The Greatest Commandment: One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. Mark 12:28-32
When we harm what belongs to someone else, whether by theft, carelessness, or accident, we make it right. Meaning: God teaches that community trust is built on honesty, restitution, and taking responsibility for our actions. Even accidental damage matters because our neighbor matters.
It reads in Exodus 22:1-6 Easy: “How should you punish a man who steals a bull or a sheep? If the man kills the animal or sells it, then he cannot give it back. So, he must pay five bulls for the one he stole. Or he must pay four sheep for the one he stole. He must pay for stealing. If he owns nothing, then he will be sold as a slave. But if the man still has the animal and you find it, that man must give the owner two animals for every animal he stole. It doesn’t matter if the animal was a bull, a donkey, or a sheep. “If a thief is killed while trying to break into a house at night, then no one will be guilty for killing him. But if this happens during the day, the one who killed him will be guilty of murder.“A man might let his animal loose to graze in his field or vineyard. If the animal wanders into another person’s field or vineyard, then the owner must pay. The payment must come from the best of his crop.
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Father God, teach us to honor one another’s belongings and to make things right when we harm what belongs to our neighbor. Give us honesty to admit mistakes, courage to restore what was lost, and wisdom to care for what is entrusted to us. Shape our hearts to protect the vulnerable and to build communities of trust, mercy, and responsibility. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
Care To Plant 