Duties Toward Others
The Tenth Commandment
Thou Shalt Not Covet
Description
The tenth commandment addresses the heart—the internal desires from which all external sins flow. Covetousness is discontentment with God's provision and desire for what belongs to another. This commandment reveals that sin originates within, not merely in outward actions. No one can perfectly keep even the external commandments while harboring covetous hearts. Paul testified that this commandment convicted him of sin, showing him the depth of his depravity and his need for grace.
Key Verses
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
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.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.