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Unlawful Not To--We begin a new series on the uses of the Law of God. We should note, first of all, that Paul says the Law is good if one uses it lawfully.
Back to the Beginning--At the root of all coveting is the desire for autonomy – what Augustine referred to as a “deadly corrosive.” The tenth commandment Exodus 20.17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant,…
Dealing with Covetousness--In Psalm 73 Asaph gives us a concise formula for dealing with covetousness and all temptation. The tenth commandment Exodus 20.17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his…
Coveting and Other Sin--Coveting will issue in other sins. The tenth commandment Exodus 20.17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Deuteronomy 5.21…
Controlling Desire--How, then, can we control our desires? The tenth commandment Exodus 20.17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Deuteronomy 5.21 “‘And…
A Trap for the Heart--So the tenth commandment links the Law back to the first commandment, challenging us to cultivate love for God as the commanding affection of our hearts (Matt. 22.34-40). The tenth commandment Exodus 20.17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s…
A Matter of the Heart--Note also that coveting is a matter of affections; it gets at what we most desire. The tenth commandment Exodus 20.17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox,…
The Unseen Sin--The Ten Commandments end in a rather strange way, by proscribing covetousness.
Called as Witnesses--Anyone who witnesses a transgression has a duty to come forward to testify when a public call for witnesses is issued. The ninth commandment Leviticus 5.1 “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen…
Multiple Witnesses--God requires a multiplicity of witnesses in any matter relating to His Law. The ninth commandment Deuteronomy 19.15-21 “‘A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two…
Fairness and Equality--God’s redemption applies equally to all who receive it. The ninth commandment Leviticus 19.35, 36 “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the LORD…
Truth Only--It violates the ninth commandment to conspire falsely, give false witness in a lawsuit, or to practice favoritism in any matter. The ninth commandment Exodus 23.2, 3 “You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the…
False Reports--False reports can take various forms. The ninth commandment Exodus 23.1 “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.” False reports can take various forms. Gossip – unsubstantiated reports about others, or reports scattered in order…
Cross-dressing--In those days the only purpose for “cross-dressing” would have been to deceive The ninth commandment Deuteronomy 22.5 “‘A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.’” In those…
Honesty in Marriage--Dishonesty and deceit in marriage are particularly to be avoided. The ninth commandment Deuteronomy 22.13-21 “‘If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then hates her and accuses her of misconduct and brings a bad name upon her, saying, “I took this woman, and…