Extortion, the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats, is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible. It is consistently condemned as a sinful act that is contrary to the principles of justice and righteousness upheld by Scripture.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, extortion is often associated with injustice and oppression. The prophets frequently spoke against those who exploited others for personal gain. Ezekiel 22:12 highlights the sin of extortion among the Israelites: "In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and excessive interest; you make unjust gain from your neighbors by extortion. And you have forgotten Me, declares the Lord GOD."

The Psalms also reflect on the character of those who engage in extortion. Psalm 62:10 warns, "Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them." This verse underscores the futility and moral bankruptcy of relying on ill-gotten wealth.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, extortion is listed among the sins that are incompatible with the Kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, includes extortioners in a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Jesus Himself addressed the issue of extortion in His teachings. In Luke 18:11, the Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector boasts, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector." This self-righteous attitude is condemned, and the parable highlights the importance of humility and repentance over self-justification.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The Bible's condemnation of extortion is rooted in its broader ethical teachings on justice, fairness, and love for one's neighbor. Extortion violates the commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39) and stands in stark contrast to the biblical call for honesty and integrity in all dealings.

The consistent biblical message is that wealth obtained through extortion is not only morally wrong but also spiritually detrimental. Proverbs 22:16 warns, "He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty." This reflects the divine principle that unjust gain ultimately leads to ruin.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on extortion is clear: it is a grievous sin that reflects a heart far from God. The Scriptures call believers to pursue justice, righteousness, and love, rejecting any form of exploitation or coercion. Through the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible provides a comprehensive moral framework that denounces extortion and upholds the values of integrity and fairness.Psalm 109:11
Let the extortionist catch all that he has; and let the strangers spoil his labor.
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 16:4
Let my outcasts dwell with you, Moab; be you a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortionist is at an end, the spoiler ceases, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 22:12
In you have they taken gifts to shed blood; you have taken usury and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten me, said the Lord GOD.
Nave's Topical Index

Micah 3:2,3
Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
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Matthew 23:25
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Nave's Topical Index

Luke 18:11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Corinthians 5:10,11
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortionists, or with idolaters; for then must you needs go out of the world.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Corinthians 6:10
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Nave's Topical Index

Concerning the Sacrament of Penance
... works and in examples taken from the Scriptures, where we ... into a means of tyranny
and extortion by the ... and fasting; while all, under one general delusion, say ...
/.../first principles of the reformation/concerning the sacrament of penance.htm

1 Cor. xiii. 8
... For the general effeminacy [222] hath gone so far ... for your negligence concerning
the Scriptures: but because ... vineyard is free from his extortion: behold Gehazi ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxxiv 1 cor xiii.htm

Thoughts Upon Worldly Riches. Sect. I.
... Persons; but I shall speak to all in general, and leave ... Scriptures so seldom, and
so cursorily as they do? ... MOREOVER, is not Extortion and Oppression a Sin? ...
/.../private thoughts upon a christian life/thoughts upon worldly riches sect.htm

The Bible and the French Revolution.
... of the noble resulted in grinding extortion toward the ... And to add to the general
misery, the ... decrees, thus granting toleration to the Scriptures, was adopted ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /15 the bible and the.htm

The Bible and the French Revolution
... of the noble resulted in grinding extortion toward the ... And to add to the general
misery, the ... decrees, thus granting toleration to the Scriptures, was adopted ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 15 the bible and.htm

The Historical Situation
... a reputation, usually deserved, for all sorts of extortion. ... of prayers, and reading
of the scriptures"both law ... the people who owned the general leadership of ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/i the historical situation.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... whole form of his life, and the general tenor of ... are called the people of God;
(extortion, in particular ... to God, partly in searching the Scriptures, in reading ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 25 upon our lords.htm

Sunday after Ascension Day
... sent of God; in taxes, extortion, robbing and ... to be done away with first, and the
Scriptures falsified ... then to admonish Christians in general, and particularly ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday after ascension day.htm

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... Had they taught men the Scriptures, and shown them ... In general, the Lord here condemns
the arbitrariness of ... and platter had been procured by extortion or was ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

Second Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Brotherly Love.
... The Scriptures repeatedly denounce such faithless hypocrites as ... by fraud, oppression
and extortion; who take ... to the parochial estates and general property of ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/second sunday after trinity exhortation.htm

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