For everyone who behaves dishonestly in regard to these things is detestable to the LORD your God. Sermons
I. AN INJUNCTION MUCH NEEDED. Trade morality is at present at a low ebb. Mixed up with the thousands of honest transactions which no doubt take place every day, there must be admitted to be an enormous number which are more or less fraudulent. "On the average," says Mr. Spencer, "men who deal in bales and tons differ but little in morality from men who deal in yards and pounds. Illicit practices of every form and shade, from venial deception up to all but direct theft, may be brought home to the higher grades of the commercial world. Tricks innumerable, lies acted or uttered, elaborately devised frauds, are prevalent - many of them established as 'customs of the trade;' nay, not only established, but defended" ('Essays,' vol. 2., 'Morals of Trade;' cf. Smiles on 'Duty,' Deuteronomy 3.). The saddest feature in the outlook is the apparent prevalence of the feeling that trickery of this kind is absolutely essential to success - that a man can't get on without it. II. AN INJUNCTION WHICH OUGHT TO BE ENFORCED. But how? By a fearless exposure of dishonesties, and by a loud and firm demand on the part of every upright member of society for honest and truthful dealing. Only if the dishonest are a majority in society - a majority of overwhelming numbers - can they ultimately prevail against the honest. A determined combination on the part of persons of integrity would suffice to put them down. The man known to be honest should be supported, even at some pecuniary sacrifice. Custom should be unflinchingly withdrawn from men detected in tricks, and the stamp of public reprobation placed on such men and their doings. Means should be taken to diffuse information as to the arts and frauds by which dishonesty sustains itself. The causes of these dishonesties need also to be looked into - chiefly, according to Spencer, the indiscriminate respect paid to wealth. Love of the honor and position which wealth gives - the certainty of being looked up to, courted in society, applauded for success, with few questions asked, - this is the tap-root of the evil, and it is to be cured by distinguishing between wealth and character, and by honoring the former only when in alliance with the latter. III. AN INJUNCTION WHICH IT IS EVERY ONE'S INTEREST TO ENFORCE. Trade dishonesty should, if possible, be checked: 1. In view of its inherent immorality. Nothing can be more despicable, more mean and disgraceful, than the lies, frauds, briberies, malpractices, adulterations, which, if the witnesses are to be trusted, abound in all branches of trade. These things are a blot on our country, the shame of which touches all. 2. In view of its corrupting effect on morals generally. Its influence spreads beyond itself. It saps principle, eats out faith in virtue, unfits the individual for every moral task. 3. In view of its effects on national prosperity. These are ruinous. God's displeasure rests on the nation, and he is certain to chastise it. But the sorest whip he uses to chastise it is the scourge of its own follies. Our dishonesties lose us (are actually losing us) our markets; lower us in the eyes of foreign nations; destroy credit; engender a spirit of general distrust; still worse, by undermining principle, they destroy the power of steady application to work, and increasingly substitute the motives of the gambler for those of the merchant content with lawful gains. The inevitable end is impoverishment and disgrace. 4. As a measure of self-protection. Each individual suffers as part of the whole. He is frequently cheated, sometimes incurs serious losses. Hard-earned money finds its way into the pockets of clever but unscrupulous scoundrels, who as rapidly squander it in reckless living. - J.O.
Thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, measure. I. ENDEAVOUR TO POINT OUT WHAT CHRISTIANITY REQUIRES OF A MAN IN HIS DEALINGS IN BUSINESS WITH HIS FELLOW MEN.1. The most rigid adherence to the principles of moral integrity. Truth. Honesty. 2. The exercise of love and kindness. 3. That a man should preserve his soul in peace and patience. 4. That commerce be consecrated and elevated by the spirit of holiness. II. Having described what a Christian should be in commerce BRIEFLY SHOW WHY HE SHOULD BE IT. All considerations by which religion and morality are commended and enforced are applicable here. The course pointed out is right in itself, what we owe to God and connected with eternal destiny. It is necessary to inherit the kingdom of heaven. It is presented to us in the example of Christ, whom all disciples should imitate. In one word, Christianity requires it; all its precepts, principles, blessings, and prospects require it. (A. J. Morris.) (Bp. Newton.) 1. Some rights men are born to — such as the use of their own limbs, the free and uncontrolled exercise of their faculties of body and mind — these faculties, derived from the Author of life, sufficiently speak the intention of the Giver — that they should be freely, but at the same time innocently used — this is the equal birthright of every man. 2. Again, if every human being that God has made has a right to live, to breathe, to move, to think — he must also have a just claim to the product of his labour and his thought. 3. Another source of right springs from mutual, voluntary engagements — expressed, or implied — which ought all to be candidly interpreted, and conscientiously fulfilled. 4. Of all obligations the most binding and indispensable is to do no wrong to any; to hold the rightful claims of our fellow creatures sacred. First, all restraint upon personal liberty exercised by one man upon another — uncompelled by previous aggression — tends wantonly to defeat man's whole destination; and is therefore a daring outrage against the Author of his being. Equally, or rather more unjust and more criminal is it, to forge chains for the mind — to prohibit the use of reason — to compel men to violate their conscience. Next to the undisturbed use of our bodily and mental faculties, the fruits of their exertion, justice maintains inviolable — and consequently enjoins — the exact observance of those civil laws by which the disposal of property is regulated, "not merely for wrath, but for conscience sake." Moreover, independently of government and laws, that those contracts which are entered into for mutual aid and benefit, and without which mankind could not act collectively and in concert, are to be formed on fair and upright principles, and fulfilled with punctuality — is as evident as that man was created to be a social being, and that no one should undermine that mutual confidence and that willingness to combine and to cooperate together, on which the common good so manifestly depends. Nor do commercial or pecuniary concerns form the only province of justice. She is equally solicitous to render unto all their dues of every kind. She abstains as carefully from violating another's reputation as his property; of which, indeed, it often constitutes the most valuable part; and as scrupulously shuns taking any unfair advantage in the most secret transaction, as in the sight of all the world. Who is not sensible of the discordant and tumultuous state into which mankind would fall were justice to take her flight? Selfishness and rapine on all sides prevailing in a short time little would remain for the one to covet or the other to prey upon and monopolise. Justice is essential not only to the comfort, but to the subsistence of the species. But where neither the eye of man can penetrate, nor the hand of man can reach — there the claims of justice are felt by the truly upright; the reasonable expectations of their fellow creatures weighed in an impartial scale, and answered with the same conscientious care and unswerving rectitude, as if they were defined by the strictest statutes, and enforced by the severest penalties. Far beyond all formal compacts, all legal obligations, is the demand of reason and conscience on the just man. In comparing his own rights with those of others, his justice stretches into the domain of generosity; in comparing the claims of others between themselves his generosity never deviates from impartial justice. So imperceptible are the shades of difference that separate justice from generosity — whether we consider their motives, obligations, or effects — that, amongst the ancient philosophers justice was the common name assigned to both; and denoted the general principle of all the social virtues — and our Saviour comprehends all that is equitable and all that is kind and disinterested in one and the same precept — "Do unto others, as ye would that they should do unto you." I shall only add, that as justice is that virtue which is most essential to every social state, and that state which is reserved for the spirits of the just will be preeminently social; so the habits of justice, which have in this world been interwoven with all their sentiments and actions, must there attain their highest perfection and produce the happiest issue. (P. Houghton.). People Amalek, Amalekites, Ephah, MosesPlaces Amalek, Beth-baal-peor, EgyptTopics Abomination, Act, Acts, Anyone, Deals, Disgusting, Dishonestly, Iniquity, Unjustly, Unrighteously, Unrighteousness, UprightOutline 1. Punishment must not exceed forty lashes4. The ox is not to be muzzled 5. Of raising seed unto a brother 11. Of the immodest woman 13. Of unjust weights and measures 17. The memory of Amalek is to be blotted out Dictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 25:16 6025 sin, and God's character 5242 buying and selling Library Therefore at that Time, when the Law Also...27. Therefore at that time, when the Law also, following upon the days of the Patriarchs, [2010] pronounced accursed, whoso raised not up seed in Israel, even he, who could, put it not forth, but yet possessed it. But from the period that the fullness of time hath come, [2011] that it should be said, "Whoso can receive, let him receive," [2012] from that period even unto this present, and from henceforth even unto the end, whoso hath, worketh: whoso shall be unwilling to work, let him not falsely … St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage The Doctrine of Arbitrary Scriptural Accommodation Considered. Nor, Because I Called Ruth Blessed, Anna More Blessed... Genealogy According to Luke. Of those who are Able to Profit Others by virtuous Example in Supreme Rule, but Fly from it in Pursuit of their Own Ease. Genealogy of Jesus According to Matthew. The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day. The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It. Cix. Jewish Rulers Seek to Ensnare Jesus. Preaching (iii. ). Second Stage of Jewish Trial. Jesus Condemned by Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. Deuteronomy Links Deuteronomy 25:16 NIVDeuteronomy 25:16 NLT Deuteronomy 25:16 ESV Deuteronomy 25:16 NASB Deuteronomy 25:16 KJV Deuteronomy 25:16 Bible Apps Deuteronomy 25:16 Parallel Deuteronomy 25:16 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 25:16 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 25:16 French Bible Deuteronomy 25:16 German Bible Deuteronomy 25:16 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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