When do robbers become terrorists? (28:24)

He who robs his father or his mother and says, “It is not a transgression,” is the companion of a man who destroys.

28.24 rs car theft 1572653 Surprisingly, it starts at home. When robbers steal from their own parents they are not just thieves, but act like terrorists. Parents should be honoured, not abused. Parents are “semi-sacred.”

Robbing either parent is a violation of the fifth commandment, “Honour your father and your mother.” To steal from those who gave us life and nurtured us when we were helpless is much more serious than stealing from anyone else. Parents give to children as they wish, but children do not have the right to take as they wish.

Governments can learn much from this text and design appropriate tax benefits to reduce social breakdown.

Classic KJV - Proverbs 28:24

28.24 rs walking at the beach 1380188 A child who steals from a parent will easily steal from a sibling. The debt of gratitude and honour is greater toward a parent than toward a sibling. As parents get older and more vulnerable, it is absolutely essential that their children are supportive, rather than abusive.

Translation

The Hebrew word for a man who destroys, שחת (šā•ḥăt, pronounced “shah-khăth”), is first used in Genesis 6:11 where the word “corrupt” is used to describe the earth just before Noah’s flood. This connotes a more serious evil than mere thievery and implies that violence and injury may soon follow. The modern term for a man who destroys is a saboteur—a terrorist. Of course there are other types of terrorists that seek to destroy, perhaps even with their parents’ blessing, but the text states that financial parent abuse is one type of terrorism.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

28.24 rs shooooo 1356253 The expression “is a companion of” avoids the direct accusation of calling such a child a destroyer. By close association with someone, we implicitly approve of their lifestyle and values. We pickup of their mannerisms. We learn their habits. We become like them.

Parental Support Tax Incentive

If robbing parents is wrong, then giving to them is right! Rather than taking from parents’ finances, add to them. A nation would be served well by a tax incentive which allows children to deduct from their income amounts used to support elderly parents. This could significantly reduce the state costs of elder-care. Such a tax incentive would draw God’s blessing upon the nation since it would line up with God’s word and strengthen families.

Classic Comments

To quote the commentator, Gill:

Sins against parents are greater than against others...more aggravated, especially when parents are aged, and cannot work for themselves, but depend on what they have for their livelihood; whereas a young man can, and ought, and should rather give to his parents than rob them of what they have.

Matthew Henry also notes that children may rob their parents indirectly by wasting what they have been given or by incurring debt and leaving their parents to pay it.