Tenth Commandment Series

Tenth Commandment:

Thou shall not covet anything of thy neighbor - Ex 20:17

Introduction:. Buddhism taught craving is the cause of all sufferings. Philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) declared that human desire is the fundamental motivation of all human action. Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) called any action based on desires are hypothetical imperative, also he established a relation between the beautiful and pleasure. Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and the defense mechanism of repression, proposed “Oedipus Complex” that is desire for the mother creates neuroses in their sons. Desire can cause humans to become obsessed and embittered, it has been called one of the causes of woe for mankind. Emotions arise from a person's mental state. Different words: desire, covet, crave, want, wish.

1. Thou shall not covet Ex 20:17

Thy Neighbors’ house, Thy Neighbor’s wife, Neighbor’s property, anything of thy Neighbor.

This commandment is concerned, not only with acts, words, even with every thoughts of our heart (Ellicots). It combines seventh and eighth commandments, covetousness and lustful desire. (Mat. 5:27-28.) Divine Law controls over men’s thoughts, feelings, because these are source of all that is evil.

How the lust enters into heart? by way of appreciation, “your house is beautiful”, “your dress is beautiful”.

God not only forbids external acts of sin, but the inward and first motions of the mind. The schemes and contrivances of sin in the mind, the imaginations of it, thoughts dwelling upon it with pleasure, are forbidden(Gill Exposition).

Mathew Henry: The tenth commandment strikes at the root; nine commands forbid all desire of doing what will be an injury to our neighbor; this forbids all wrong desire of having what will gratify ourselves. Godliness and honesty must go together. The true godliness consists in bringing “every thought into captivity to Christ” (2Cor. 10:5).

Mathew Poole: The inward and deliberate purpose and desire of a deceitful or violent taking away of another man’s goods are forbidden. Those inward motions of the heart, which from the fountain of original corruption do spring up in the heart, and tickle it with some secret delight, though they do not obtain tie deliberate consent of the will. God is word is spiritual and holy(Rm. 7:12,14), it reaches thoughts, intents, and actual motions of heart.

"O that such a man’s house were mine! Such a man’s wife mine! Such a man’s estate mine!’’ This is certainly a language of discontent, envy. Forbade all those irregular appetites and desires which are the first-born of the corrupt nature (Rm. 7:7) .

2. God one who searches the heart. Jer. 17:10

"Thou shalt not covet" teaches men that there is One who sees the heart; to whose eyes "all things are naked and open;" and who cares far less for the outward act than the inward thought or motive from which the act proceeds(Gal 5:17, 5:24)

The LORD searches the heart and examine the mind, secret motives, inner depths, test the thoughts, tries reins(Jer. 17:10) for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts (I Chr. 28:9).

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts, concerns, paths, steps (Ps.139:23). I am He who searches the minds and hearts( Rev.2:23)

Fix your eyes and thoughts on Jesus who is sated upon the heavenly realms (Col 3:1,5). Look up to heavenly things. Look up.

3. Desire and lust after the following

Desire God: At night my soul longs for you oh God(Is.26:9), Desire nothing on earth except you my Lord(Ps73:25). Thirst for living God(Ps.42:2, 63:1, 143:6)

Desire word: I wait for your word(Ps.119:81) wisdom: Pr.8:11., Ps 19:10 more to be desired than the Gold. Soul is Longing for ordinances(epahaq;fs;) of God(Ps.119:20),

Desire Gifts of the Holy Spirit.( I Cor. 14:1). The desire of the righteous ends only in good (Pr. 11:23)

“Desire nothing but God, Fear nothing but sin”- John Wesley.