Passage

Leviticus 6:1-7

Why is cheating a neighbor also unfaithfulness against the Lord?

Berean Standard Bible

1 And the LORD said to Moses, 2 “If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor 3 or finds lost property and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that a man might commit— 4 once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, 5 or anything else about which he has sworn falsely. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value, and pay it to the owner on the day he acknowledges his guilt. 6 Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock. 7 In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.”

What is the context?

The next wrongs involve entrusted property, theft, extortion, lost property, lies, and false swearing. The text calls these actions unfaithfulness against the Lord even while naming their harm to a neighbor.

The guilty person must return what was taken or withheld and add a fifth, paying the owner. A ram is then brought for the priest to make atonement. Worship is not offered as a substitute for returning another person’s property.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley emphasizes that harm to a neighbor also violates faithfulness toward God, especially when false swearing abuses His name. The passage’s concrete repayment prevents repentance from becoming merely a private feeling. The additional fifth belongs to this legal case; it is not a complete modern schedule for every kind of theft or civil penalty.

Where does this fit in God's plan?

In Luke 19:1–10, Zacchaeus responds to Jesus with generosity and a commitment to repay fraud. His fourfold repayment differs from this law’s additional fifth, so the amounts should not be equated. The supported parallel is that turning toward God becomes visible in making wrongs against other people right.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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