Robin Hood is one of the most iconic heroes of Medieval literature and Medieval cinema. From Howard Pyre's "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood" to Ridley Scott's more realistic "Robin Hood (2010)" starring Russell Crowe; the yeoman in Lincoln green has captured the imagination of young and old. Perhaps the most famous Robin Hood is Disney's rendition that replaced people with anamorphic characters.
The historical evidence of Robin Hood has been debated. Was there really a band of merrymen? Was Robin of the Hood really Robin Loxely of Pepperharrow? Did Maid Marion exist? All of these questions have been puzzling historians. Some believe Robin Hood was singular man, others many men over the period of King John's reign. The similarities between Robinhood and Zorro are uncanny; both robing from the rich nobility and helping the poor and oppressed.
But is Robin Hood a noble or nefarious character? The answer.. nefarious. Robin Hood is the greatest success story for sin. The seemingly heroic figure is really a robber who takes from the rich and even those he thinks are rich to feed his gang called the Merrymen. Robin Hood has justified stealing by giving to the poor; but would we in today's society praise a person who steals from Donald Trump, Bill Gates, or Queen Elizabeth II to give to the poor? Some may, but doesn't it violate Scripture? The Commandment, "Thou shalt not steal," (Exodus 20:15) rings a bell, but even more so is that Jesus Christ said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19). Here our Lord even mention a thief, which Robin Hood is. The Lord Jesus even tells the Rich young ruler to obey these laws, "You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony." (Matthew 19:18). Then our Lord and Savior even gives a thief as example of great evil, He speaks of the ultimate thief who is the devil, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10).
So is Robin Hood really like Satan or still a hero? The answer is Robin Hood glorifies thievery in the name of "stealing from rich and giving to the poor." The political movement called Occupy argued the same thing, saying, "The 1% have all the money and need to give it to the 99%" and even President Obama said, "We need to give our fair share. You didn't build your business, you needed help." This fair share has come in form of taxes; so why the President tries to appear like Robin Hood, He actually is behaving more like King John whose exhorberant taxes bled England dry.
Robin Hood is a dangerious symbol; a justification of stealing. I believe the Apostle Paul words condemn Him. Paul said, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." (Romans 13:1-7).
Robin Hood especially defies this last couples of Paul's words; He evades the tax collector known as the Sherriff of Nottingham and steals from him to give to the poor. While this seems heroic, and it was true that people of England were overtaxed by King John; one must understand that John's taxation was a poor plan by the inept ruler to pay for King Richard's wars in holy land and in France in addition to his own greed.
Legends of the Merrymen of Sherriwood Forest have successfully made people, especially children, believe stealing is alright in the context of over taxation. Patriots of America could even argue it was the same premise that the Colonies used to rebel against England and started a revolution that would create the United States. The part that most people do not remember is the Tea-Tax demonstration of dumping the tea into the sea came after negotiations, diplomacy, and numerous appeals to King George. In fact, the appeals were so numerous and exasperating long before a revolution began.
And yet, Robin Hood still garners approval. This Yeoman has used his bow and arrows to shoot the hearts of young lads and maidens. The stories of the Men of the Hood have 'cloaked' stealing as acceptable under the circumstances of over taxation. I wonder how happy people would be today if under the high taxes they found their houses pillage in the Middle Class and given to the poor on the street? Would you like your iPhone, computer, and other belonging stolen because you technically still fall in the nobility and privileged class; after all Robin Hood thinks you have too much and that you need to give it up.
The Scriptures have more to say on stealing and thievery. The Apostle Paul says, "He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need." (Ephensians 4:28), "you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?" (Romans 2:21), "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
The traitor Judas Iscariot was known as thief. Scripture says Judas protested about the oil a woman poured over Jesus could have been sold and given to the poor (sound like Robin Hood?) But the reason Judas said this "not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it." (John 12:6). I've noticed Robin Hood takes much of the food, possessions, and gold he steals and uses it amongst his merry men. Far from being philanthropist, Robin actually randomly chooses to bless the oppressed. In one tale, a downcast knight appears riding in meager garb, and Robin is still intend on robing him.
In an encounter with Jesus Christ, a notorious thief and tax collector known Zaccheus ceases his pilfering. The Bible says, "Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." (Luke 19:8). To which Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this house today!" (verse 9). Zaccheus was changed spending time with Christ; while Robin Hood who is depicted as God fearing Christian acts contrary to this, he steals and seeks thrills. While Robin beguiles many into sympathy for his stealing because he uses it to help the poor; there is no Scripture that endorses stealing to help feed the poor. In fact Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me." (Matthew 26:11). Granted, Jesus was meaning that after His Resurrection He would ascend until His Second Coming; but a point our Lord made is the poor will always be here.
Speaking of the Savior and Son of God, here is what He has to say about stealing: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders." (Matthew 15:19). Jesus is sharing the tendencies and wicked works that come out of our sinful hearts. Without Christ Jesus we are prone to do these things. Christ seems to be describing Robin Hood and his merry men Himself when He said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead." (Luke 10:30). You see, for Robin if its the Sherriff of Nottingham or his men, they can be beaten and even killed; even though some of those knights of the realm are just doing their duty to the crown and probably even admire secretly the men in Lincoln green.
Jesus especially hated thievery from clerics. It says in the New Testament, "Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN." (Matthew 21:12-13). God became full of vehemence and indiganation that the temple had been turned into market place; robbing people through the exchange of Roman money into Temple currency and making people buy doves, lamps, and other religious tokens.
It is clear that Robin of the Hood has not foot to stand on for stealing in Scripture. His behavior is considered grounds for not entering the Kingdom of Heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), a violation of church doctrine (Ephesians 4:28), and contrary to Christ examples and parables that depict robbers as revilers (Luke 10:30). This could explain why in many adaptations and tales of Robin, that clergy are depicted as corrupt and conceited. Granted there have always been corrupt men of cloth; but most of the examples save Friar Tuck, who actually endorsees and helps Robin steal, are seen as cruel churchmen (see Ridley Scott's film for prime example of this).
Robin Hood's name alone is telling. While his name seems to be derived from the hoods worn in Middle Ages that cloak the face. This is accurate, but Robin also tells fibs, does tricks, and treachery, which aptly makes the hood in his name go with falsehood. Falsehood came from people who wore monk hoods and really were robbers and murders; they tried to conceal their identity to do their wickedry. Sounds like Robin alright.
I find it interesting that Robin Hood and Peter Pan have many similarities. Both wear Lincoln green, both act childish about peril, both have gangs: Robin has the Merrymen and Peter the Lost Boys, and both play tricks on & disrespect authority: Sheriff of Nottingham and Captain Hook. See a pattern? It seems to me, embodied in both Robin and Peter is anti-authoritarian mindset.
A very famous series about Robin Hood is called Robin Hood TV Series (2006-2009). It is BBC program, and after watching several seasons I was appalled at the content. Robin Hood instead of being a Christian, returns from Crusades with Saracen blade (Scimitar, saber like sword) and quotes the Quran. The only signs of the cross and Christianity are a special gallows erected by the Sherriff of Nottingham that are in shape of three crosses that choke people to death. Suffice to say, Robin in this case not only continues the tradition of stealing, but becomes preacher for Islamic propaganda. It goes without saying, this series is not recommended and I advise against watching it.
When the evidence is weighted against Robin Hood: Scripture, Character, and Morality; he is found "wanting." It is understandable that people who are suffering from over taxation and feel their possessions pilfered by powers of the land admire Robin Hood, but to what end? Robin commits evil to assuage evil? The Scripture says, "but what gain is it to gain the world (including wealth) and lose your soul?" (Mark 8:36). Jesus said, "store up not riches for yourself on earth, but store them up in heaven." Why should we be sorrowful if our things are taken? If Jesus Christ is all we need and want; what need do we have to hold on so tightly to things of this earth? Robin Hood embodies the desire to hold on to treasures here on earth. While yes, it can be just to deal with over taxation through legislature and through legal ways; stealing or committing another vice to fight a vice does not make things right. A sin does not erase a sin. Thus my consensus is that Robin Hood is a danger to a youthful mind; because he is set up against Scripture and the Christian character we are suppose to have. Jesus said, "love your enemy and pray for those who despitefully use you.." (Matthew 5:33, Luke 6:28). He did not say, "hate your enemy, and prey upon those who despitefully use you."
Robin Hood maintains the "eye for the eye" mentality in his diverse appearances in literature, legends, song, film, television, and more. He steals from those who steal, and kills those who kills (although in some tales like Howard Pyre's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood and Disney's Robin Hood he chooses to maim his enemies). The point is the Robin Hood is not a great example of a righteous person. He uses his skills of archery, disguise, and wit to steal and make fools of his enemies. While it is funny, do you think Christ would want us to steal and make fools of our enemies? On the contrary Jesus said this, "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca (idiot),' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Matthew 5:22). If Jesus says that about calling anyone a fool, what do you imagine His disposition is about making a fool out of someone?
In the end Robin Hood is but one more example of how legends can contradict our faith and thus are dangerous if accepted and passed down. In my estimate Robin Hood is a reproach and not worthy of our precious time. Instead look to a real God and Savior, Jesus Christ for the answers, not some Yeomen who may or may not have existed.
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