What does the Bible say about stealing?

The commandment 'Thou shalt not steal' in Exodus 20:15 signifies that theft is not just a social sin but a spiritual one, reflecting a heart attitude that denies God's sovereignty over all possessions. Theft undermines the rightful ownership that God has ordained and highlights the deeper sinfulness of the human heart. Every believer must understand that everything they possess comes from God, and thus, taking what does not belong to them is ultimately theft against God Himself. The reason this commandment was especially pertinent for the Israelites was that they were a newly freed people given land by God's grace, reinforcing the idea that their possessions were gifts from God, not merely the result of their own effort.