Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 19:18 – Does God Ever Tell Us to Steal? Unpacking the Bible’s Tough Passages

Host Lance Smith examines apparent Bible conflicts about stealing—Rachel taking her fathers household idols and the Israelites leaving Egypt with silver and gold—by reviewing context, translations, and scholarship. The episode shows the Bible consistently condemns theft and explains the highlighted Old Testament cases as descriptive, cultural, or acts of divine justice rather than endorsements of stealing. References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following: buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith  The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page Email Address: [email protected]  Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/steal.html  “What Does the Bible Say about Stealing?,” Vivian Bricker, Christianity.com. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-does-the-bible-say-about-stealing.html Bar Niv, Moshe. “Regulating Theft – Lessons from Biblical Law.” Rutgers Journal of Law & Religion, Vol. 16, 2014. https://sites.camden.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/03/Regulating-Theft-Bar-Niv.pdf “Israelite Plundering and a Missing Donkey,” Eric Lyons, Apologetics Press. https://apologeticspress.org/israelite-plundering-and-a-missing-donkey-649/ “Exodus 3:22 – The Israelites Leave Egypt,” Wayne Jackson, Christian Courier. https://christiancourier.com/articles/exodus-3-22-the-israelites-leave-egypt “What is the meaning of ‘spoiled the Egyptians’ in Exodus 12:36?,” GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/spoiled-the-Egyptians.html “Why did people keep family idols in the Bible?,” GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/family-idols.html “Laban Searches for His Stolen Idols—Genesis 31:33,” Emanuel Tov, TheTorah.com. https://www.thetorah.com/article/laban-searches-for-his-stolen-idols-genesis-31-33 “Rachel’s Teraphim: A Critique of the Northern Kingdom,” Erin D. Darby, TheTorah.com. https://www.thetorah.com/article/rachels-teraphim-a-critique-of-the-northern-kingdom “Why Steal the Household gods?,” Entrusted to the Dirt. https://entrustedtothedirt.com/2021/03/22/why-steal-the-household-gods/ Sláma, Petr. “‘Thus they despoiled the Egyptians’ (Exod 12:36 and parallels): On the scandal of asking silver and gold from innocent neighbours.” https://www.academia.edu/38556165/_Thus_they_despoiled_the_Egyptians_Exod_12_36_and_parallels_On_the_scandal_of_asking_silver_and_gold_from_innocent_neighbours