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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The key to understanding this commandment is in the definition of the word "covet." Two different Hebrew words are used in the passages condemning coveting (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21), and bot...
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Emo Tenorio
Supporter
Great question and a very excellent answer by brother Houdmann, I submit that to covet any worldly item be it property, money or affections is theft by nature! To exalt oneself into a mischievous position of replacing the perfect balance of God's Word, and now executing judgement on who or what is fair via social or income justice enforced by mob coercion and rule. The core principle of any ideological totalitarian "ism" belief system weather social or liberal is to remove the standards of lawful interaction between His creations and then place into this void the ever shifting no standards of the evil one. If you can first covet and then via perverted laws take from a man his life's work in property or money, that which the God of the Bible, has blessed him with for whatever His own reasons? Not only have you stolen from him and his heirs, but you have also just broken the sixth commandant "thou shall do no murder". You have now also altered and poisoned the well from which a free society must draw from, all for a short term, and cursed evil gotten gain. Consider that today we're told we didn't build this or that business with the sweat of eighteen hour days and the endless prayers to our God to meet the payroll budgets and pay the bills, and it was He that had great mercies on our labors! Preached by an intelligentsia class of folks who are strangers to an honest day's work and whose worldly concepts only work in faculty lounges or at the barrel of a firearm, or point of cold steel, in a third world banana republic! "What you do not want done to you, do not do to your friend".......Shabbat 31a..Hillel In the Lord's true freedom...................warrior on
Tony Flores
Supporter
The 10th Commandment deals with property and the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes (1 John 2: 15-16, which makes man covetous by nature. Jesus addresses it "As that which cometh out the man, defileth the man (Mark 7 20-22). The Spirit that duelleth in us lusteth to envy. (Jas. 4:5). Envy is a symptom of covetousness and is the rule of many sins. We must have God's power (Holy Spirit) to overcome the weakness of covering. God knows everything about us. The Fall in the Garden of Eden changed the purpose that God had for us in the beginning, so He gave us the Commandments and other rules to follow and avoid the consequences for violating them. We as humans cannot follow and obey His rules which are called SINS (sin is death). But God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son (Jesus Christ) for whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life John 3:16. If you know Jesus Christ and follow Him, you will have eternal life.
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
Why is 'You shall not covet' in the Ten Commandments? "You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17) is in the Ten Commandments because it addresses the internal root of sin—the heart and desires—rather than just outward actions. It forbids deep jealousy and the wrongful desire for another's spouse or property, as this dissatisfaction leads to transgressions like theft, adultery, and murder. Reasons for the Commandment: Focus on the Heart/Intent: Unlike other commandments that prohibit external acts (e.g., "do not steal"), this one regulates internal thoughts, motives, and desires, targeting sin at its source. Prevention of Further Sins: Coveting is considered the "seed" of many other sins; unchecked envy, greed, or desire for what belongs to others often precedes actions like theft, envy, and emotional harm. Encouragement of Contentment: It promotes contentment and trust in God's providence, rather than being driven by dissatisfaction, greed, or idolatry of possessions. Prohibits Idolatry: Coveting is considered a form of idolatry, in which the heart is set on earthly things rather than God, breaking the spirit of the first commandments. The commandment covers not just owning what is another's, but the inner, persistent desire for it, which can cause harm to both the coveter and the neighbour. Some Key Reasons for Its Inclusion A "Seed" Sin: Coveting is considered a foundational sin that acts as a breeding ground for other violations. For instance, King David's coveting of Bathsheba led to both adultery and murder. The Heart of the Law: It emphasises that God's law requires more than just external obedience; it demands purity of thought and attitude. Link to Idolatry: To covet is to place a higher value on material things or others' possessions than on God, which effectively makes those desires a form of idolatry. Social Harmony: By prohibiting envy, the commandment helps prevent the violence and social breakdown that can occur when individuals or groups obsess over what others possess. Promoting Contentment: It serves as a call to trust in divine providence and be satisfied with one's own portion rather than being consumed by comparison. Some Targeted Desires [covet] According to Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21, the commandment specifically forbids craving: A neighbour's house or field. A neighbour's spouse. A neighbour's employees or livestock (servants, oxen, or donkeys). And anything else that rightfully belongs to another. Covetousness. When greediness has as its object that which belongs to another, it becomes covetousness. In the Christian Greek Scriptures, the same Greek word is used for "greediness" and "covetousness." Jesus Christ stated that covetousness defiles a man (Mr 7:20-23) and warned against it. Then there are the more subtle forms of idolatry. Covetousness is idolatry (Col 3:5), since the object of an individual's cravings diverts affection from the Creator and, in effect, becomes an idol. The last of the Ten Commandments enumerated some of them, stating: "You must not desire your fellowman's house. You must not desire your fellowman's wife, nor his slave man nor his slave girl nor his bull nor his ass nor anything that belongs to your fellowman." (Exodus 20:17) The demons were angels who became discontented with "their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place" for something to which they were not entitled. (Jude 6; Genesis 6:2) Think, too, of Balaam, Achan, Gehazi, and Judas. Instead of being content with their lot in life, they allowed an inordinate desire for material possessions to cause them to misuse their trust, plunging them into ruin and destruction.
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