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Leviticus 19:13
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither robhim: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Micah 2:2
And they covet fields, and takethem by violence; and houses, and takethem away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling inhis wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the strangerfrom his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

even against your own brothers!
The term "brothers" refers to fellow believers, emphasizing the familial bond within the Christian community. This breach of trust is particularly grievous because it undermines the unity and love that should characterize the body of Christ (John 13:34-35). The early church was intended to be a counter-cultural community, distinct from the surrounding society's practices. Paul's rebuke here is a call to return to the principles of mutual respect and love, as seen in the early church's communal life (Acts 2:44-47). This failure to uphold these values within the church reflects a deeper spiritual issue that Paul addresses throughout his letters, urging believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1).

- Paul shifts focus from what believers ought to do (accept loss rather than sue,1 Corinthians 6:1-7) to what they are actually doing.

- The contrast highlights a choice: obedience versus self-interest (Galatians 5:13;James 4:17).

- Scripture consistently calls for a different way of responding when wronged—“Do not repay evil with evil” (1 Peter 3:9).

- The verb points to deliberate exploitation; believers were defrauding one another financially and relationally (Micah 2:1-2;1 Thessalonians 4:6).

- Such conduct betrays a heart still ruled by covetousness, contradicting the call to love (Romans 13:9-10).

- Paul shows that the problem is not external persecution but internal compromise (Acts 20:29-30).

- Beyond specific acts of fraud, the broader pattern of injustice is condemned (Isaiah 1:16-17;Colossians 3:25).

- Wrongdoing here covers attitudes and actions that violate God’s righteous standards, revealing unbelief in practice (Titus 1:16).

- This sin blunts witness; the church is to “shine as lights” (Philippians 2:15), not mirror the courts of the world.

- The sin is aggravated because it is directed toward fellow members of Christ’s body (Ephesians 4:25;1 John 3:14-15).

- Family language underscores covenant responsibility: injuring a brother is injuring oneself (1 Corinthians 12:26).

- Paul’s shock reminds that judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17).

Paul exposes the tragic irony that believers, called to forgo self-defense for the sake of unity, were instead cheating and injuring those they should most dearly protect. Scripture sets a higher standard—self-sacrifice, integrity, and brotherly love—so that Christ’s body displays God’s justice rather than disputes rooted in worldly greed.