Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 4:28

"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need." — Ephesians 4:28 (ASV)

But rather let him labour,

If he must have something that he does not at present possess, this is the way to get it, not by stealing it, but by labouring for it.

Let him that stole steal no more:

If he has only been a petty pilferer, Let him that stole steal no more. He that steals a pin will one day steal an ox if he can.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour,

Honest industry is the cure for dishonesty.

Working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Observe that our trade must be a right one, not one that injures others: Working with his hands the thing which is good. But what a remarkable verse this is! A man has been a thief, and he is to go and get to work; what for? To supply his own necessities? Yes, but he is to rise to something higher than that. He is to work that he may have to give to him that needeth. What changes the grace of God makes in a man! He who once took from other people is taught to work that he may give to other people. This is indeed a turning of things the right side uppermost.

Working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

What a splendid change from a thief to one that gives to him that needeth! Now, between these two states, one might have thought to insert, "Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour with his hands" — a thing which is good — "that he may be able to provide things honest for himself." A very good idea, too, but the Christian thought is rather that he may labour, working with his hands that he may have to give. I wonder how many, even of professing Christians, think of this — that the object of labour should be that they may have to give. There are some who think the object is that we may have things to keep — that we may hoard — but I say Christ, by his apostle, teaches us that we should labour that we may have to give to him that needeth.

Working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

What a rise there is here—from a thief up to a giver to him that needs! This is what the grace of God does. Here is a man, who used to take his neighbor's goods if he could; but, when grace transforms him, he actually gives a share of his own goods to his poor neighbor; that is a marvelous change.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour,.

For laziness is generally the cause of theft. If a man would work for what he wanted, he would not be tempted to steal it. Paul carries his argument very far, let him labour,.