Proverbs 6:31 (Mini Sermon)

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31. Pro 6:31 - "But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house." A. But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; i. Whereas men do not despise a thief who steals to alleviate hunger (Pro 6:30), if he is caught he will nevertheless be punished. ii. Favoritism was not supposed to be shown to the poor who broke the law (Lev 19:15). iii. He shall restore sevenfold, or in other words seven times what he stole. iv. The law of Moses required thieves to make restitution. a. Five oxen were to be restored for a stolen ox and four sheep for a stolen sheep if the animal was killed or sold (Exo 22:1). b. If the animal was found in his possession alive, he was to restore double (Exo 22:4). v. A greater restitution of sevenfold might have been required rather than four or fivefold because sheep or oxen would likely be stolen out of a field; whereas food stolen to eat when hungry would likely be taken out of the victim's house which is a more serious crime. vi. There was also a precedent in the law of Moses for God punishing people seven times for their sins (Lev 26:18). B. he shall give all the substance of his house. i. Depending on the nature and circumstances of his theft, a thief might have had to give everything he owned to make restitution for his crime. ii. It could also be that the man who was hungry enough to steal would not have much substance in his house, and therefore all that he had would be required to restore sevenfold what he stole.