Ephesians 4:28

Old Behavior, New Behavior, And Motivation

²⁷ And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness]. ²⁸ The thief [who has become a believer] must no longer steal, but instead he must work hard [making an honest living], producing that which is good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with those in need. ²⁹ Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].

Do Good

What is Good

That Which Is Good

No

Exodus 20:15

“You shall not steal [secretly, openly, fraudulently, or through carelessness].

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

and to make it your ambition to live quietly and peacefully, and to mind your own affairs and work with your hands, just as we directed you,

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12

Indeed, we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined and inappropriate life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [meddling in other people’s business].

Exodus 20:17

“You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 21:16

“Whoever kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or is found with him in his possession, must be put to death.

Job 34:32

Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned];
If I have done wrong (injustice, unrighteousness),
I will not do it again’?

Proverbs 13:11

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].

Proverbs 14:23

In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy.

Proverbs 30:9

So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I will not be poor and steal,
And so profane the name of my God.

Jeremiah 7:9

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear [oaths] falsely, offer sacrifices or burn incense to Baal, and follow after other gods that you have not known,

Hosea 4:2

There is [false] swearing of oaths, deception (broken faith), murder, stealing, and adultery;
They employ violence, so that one [act of] bloodshed follows closely on another.

Zechariah 5:3

Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of the whole land; for everyone who steals will be cut off according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears [oaths falsely] shall be cut off according to the writing on the other side.

Luke 3:8

Therefore produce fruit that is worthy of [and consistent with your] repentance [that is, live changed lives, turn from sin and seek God and His righteousness]. And do not even begin to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [and so our heritage assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham [for God can replace the unrepentant, regardless of their heritage, with those who are obedient].

Luke 3:10-14

The crowds asked him, “Then what are we to do?”

Luke 19:8

Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “See, Lord, I am [now] giving half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will give back four times as much.”

Luke 21:1-4

Looking up, He saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury.

John 12:6

Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor [for he had never cared about them], but because he was a thief; and since he had the money box [serving as treasurer for the twelve disciples], he used to pilfer what was put into it.

John 13:29

Some thought that, since Judas [as the treasurer of the group] had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he was to give something to the poor.

Acts 20:34-35

You know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs [working in manual labor] and to [those of] the people who were with me.

Romans 12:13

contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.

1 Corinthians 6:10-11

nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 8:2

for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity.

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if the eagerness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 9:12-15

For the ministry of this service (offering) is not only supplying the needs of the saints (God’s people), but is also overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

Galatians 6:10

So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

2 Thessalonians 3:6-8

Now we command you, believers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by His authority, that you withdraw and keep away from every brother or sister who leads an undisciplined life and does not live in accordance with the tradition and teaching that you have received from us.

1 Timothy 6:18

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share [with others].