Exodus 22:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

A thief who gets caught is required to restore four times what he has taken, yet a robber’s offense is even graver than that of a thief. If a thief is expected to repay fourfold, then a robber should return tenfold or even more. Ideally, this restitution may lead to forgiveness of his wrongdoing; however, he still will not experience the rewards of charitable giving. This is reflected in the words of Zacchaeus: “If I have wronged anyone, I will repay him fourfold, and half of my possessions I will give to the poor” (Luke 19:8). If under the Law the expectation was to restore four times what was taken, how much greater is the demand within the kingdom of grace. If a thief must adhere to this requirement, a robber surely bears a heavier burden, as his actions involve not only theft but also significant contempt.

Why is one instructed to repay fivefold for a calf and fourfold for a sheep? This is because more serious transgressions warrant more significant consequences. The Lord also imparted this principle, for He stated, ‘To him who is given much, much will be exacted from him’ (Luke 12:48).

The act of stealing an ox is subjected to a penalty that is one-fifth more severe than that for stealing a sheep, based on two primary considerations: first, an ox serves as a beast of burden, and its removal can disrupt agricultural labor; second, the act of stealing such a substantial animal likely requires greater boldness and skill, indicating that the perpetrator is a more seasoned criminal.