Decoding the Torahنموونە

Do Not Deal Dishonestly with Your Fellow Man

“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.” —Leviticus 19:11

These three succinct commandments served as a moral compass for the ancient Israelites. At their core, they reflect God’s desire for His people to live in harmony and righteousness with one another. By prohibiting stealing, fraudulent dealing, and lying—which includes any form of dishonest acquisition or appropriation—God established a framework for ethical conduct that promotes trust, respect, and justice within the community of Israel. Each of these commands is essential for building strong relationships.

These precepts likewise point us to the importance of integrity in our communication. God desires His beloved to be people of their word whose speech is honest, sincere, and transparent. Deception, manipulation, and falsehood have no place in the community of faith, as they undermine trust, sow discord, and erode social foundations.

In a broader sense, these commandments challenge us to examine the alignment between our profession of faith and our everyday conduct. There can be a disconnect between religious observance and ethical behavior when we compartmentalize our spirituality and set it apart from our everyday actions. However, God’s commandments leave no room for such hypocrisy. He calls His people to live their faith righteously in every arena.

For believers in Yeshua, these commandments to deal honestly with our fellow man (Lev. 19:11) take on even greater significance. Messiah Jesus condemned hypocrisy, deceit, and exploitation and modeled a life of truthfulness. As His followers, we are called to reflect His character, conducting ourselves with integrity, honesty, and fairness in our dealings with others, whether in business, social interactions, or personal relationships.