We've mentioned many times that there's a strong connection between Mitzvot of man and his fellow and man and God.
Avodah Zara/idol worship, is, of course, horrible. But in a way, God considers thievery as similar to idol worship.
This week's Parasha tells us, “Do not bring an abomination into your house. ” This abomination refers to an idol. Don't bring an idol into your house or your possession. If you do, “You'll be ex-communicated like it.” This means that the negative force of the idol will impact you, and therefore, despise it and keep it away. The Sefer Hinuch, in Mitzvah 423 explains this on the simple level and adds that included in this mitzvah is that a person should not have money in his possession that came in an improper way- stolen money, money from interest, or any other type money is not rightfully his. He says that this falls under the category of idol worship. And he quotes a pasuk, “Lest you have in your heart a thought that's improper called Beli Al, (which refers to someone that doesn't want to lend the money when Shemitta comes around). This same term, Beli Al, is used in the context of idolatry, when men went out and caused the city to worship idols.
So there is a connection between money that's received improperly, and idol worship. And he says that in both cases, “You'll be ex-communicated like this .”
What does that mean? He says “The blessing of God is not in that money,” and it's going to cause the rest of the money to be wiped out as well.
He quotes a Gemara in Baba Metzia 71a, “One small coin of interest-earned money can destroy many warehouses of money.”
Just like a little mold can spread and ruin something, so can illegal money.
The point for us today is that the Torah is equating illegal money, that came from stealing from your fellow, to idolatrous money. It’s an important point to be aware of. People don't want idols in their homes; they wouldn’t have a Buddha doll in the house… but we have to realize that money earned in an improper way has the same negative force as an idol. Because we have to look at our fellow man in a similar way that we look at God.
Have a wonderful day.