Thou Shalt Not Covet

 

Notes from our Bible Study, as our teacher Linda taught the lesson.

Exodus 20:17  “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

The Tenth Commandment, “Do Not Covet,” can lead to sin which violates the other commandments.  To covet has a unique significance that legislates thought and behavior. 

Coveting can lead to adultery, and crimes such as stealing and even murder.

The word covet means to want to own something that belongs to someone else.

It is okay to notice  a nice house, or car, but just be happy for the person not desiring to take what they have.

We cannot allow ourselves to covet, for only evil can come of it.  Choose your thoughts and learn to think on things that are lovely and of good report.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

King David looked and then desired to take Bathsheba for a wife.  He  made plans how this would work out and considered that since he was King he could do as he pleased.  The prophet rebuked him and David repented quickly.

King Ahab looked at Naboth’s vineyard and his wicked wife used false witnesses to secure the vineyard for her husband.  Her punishment was a grisly death.

We often think we have a right to do certain things - - as long as we don’t get caught.

Who is our neighbor?  The answer is clear; Everybody.

This doesn’t mean we are to be a door mat and allow ourselves to be taken advantage of.

Genesis 2:9  And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Eve noticed that the tree of Knowledge was pleasant to look upon.  The serpent beguiled her by saying “God is keeping back from you what you should enjoy.  This fruit will make you wise and you shall be like God.” The enemy appealed to her appetite and desire for enhancement and to be WISE. 

Eve coveted the forbidden fruit and said to herself, “It looks good to me – me – me – me.

The taste of the fruit of sin was sweet as honey but sour in her stomach.   She took and gave some to Adam her husband.  Innocence was lost and their eyes were opened.

Look – Touch – Taste – and Die.  That day Adam and Eve lost eternal life and died in their spirit.  Eternal Life can only be recovered by becoming born again through believing in Christ Jesus.  Jesus is Eternal Life.

The Premise to covet is the same today,  we must not covet riches, which might lead to gambling, desiring houses or lands, or the mate of another person.  We might even covet something so simple as a parking space.

Matthew 5:27-28  Jesus warns us not to look and lust for that is adultery in the heart.

To covet is connected to lust or wrong desire.  To think and dwell on a thing.

How we live today:

There are issues of men – even Christians with pornography.  We can’t look on these things without it affecting you.   You can’t continue to dwell and not have these acted out.

The battle is in the mind and our thought life.

Proverbs 4:23  Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

BE Sober – Consider who you have offended by actions.  Have genuine sorrow and repentance.  Make that decision to forgive and ask forgiveness.   In relationships:  “Let’s work this out.

Job 31:1  Job made a covenant with his eyes that he would not look upon a maid.  God sees everything we think and do.   It pays to keep our heart with all diligence Psalms 64:6

Some sins are passed on through blood lines and Generational Curses - - evil follows in the family.  These curses  must be renounced and broken even if you never knew they existed.  (Click on the words above “Generational Curses” and pray the prayer there.

What do I do at night?  Seek and desire God and to learn His Righteousness.

Covet to Know God and His presence in a personal way.