How does 2 Samuel 13:11 connect to the commandment against coveting? Scripture Focus • 2 Samuel 13:11 – “When she set the food before him to eat, he took hold of her and said, ‘Come lie with me, my sister.’” • Exodus 20:17 – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife…” • James 1:14-15 – “Each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” • Matthew 5:28 – “Everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Tracing Coveting in Amnon’s Heart • Coveting begins privately: Amnon “was frustrated to the point of illness” (2 Samuel 13:2) because he wanted Tamar, his half-sister, who was off-limits. • Desire crosses God-given boundaries: Exodus 20:17 forbids coveting “your neighbor’s wife.” Tamar, a virgin daughter of the king, belonged under her father’s protection—clearly outside Amnon’s rightful sphere. • Coveting fuels deception: Amnon’s craving led him to scheme with Jonadab, feigning sickness to isolate Tamar (13:5-10). • Coveting escalates to violent sin: Verse 11 shows the moment coveting erupts into assault. Lust that could have been confessed and forsaken became rape because it was cherished. Coveting vs. God-Honoring Desire • God gives legitimate desires (Psalm 37:4) but commands contentment within His design. • Coveting refuses trust in God’s timing and provision, insisting “I must have this now.” • Amnon ignored lawful avenues for marriage; instead, he grasped for what was forbidden, mirroring Eve’s coveting of the fruit (Genesis 3:6). Consequences Displayed in the Narrative • Immediate damage: Tamar is violated and disgraced (13:12-20). • Breakdown of relationships: Amnon’s “love” turns to hatred (13:15); Absalom’s anger smolders into murder (13:28-29). • National ripple effect: David’s household suffers ongoing turmoil (12:10-11; 13:30-39). One act of coveting infected an entire dynasty. Connecting the Commandment and the Story • Exodus 20:17 treats coveting not merely as thought but as the seed of every theft, adultery, and violence that follows. • 2 Samuel 13 is a living illustration: the unchecked desire of one man demonstrates why God forbids coveting in the first place. • Jesus intensifies the lesson in Matthew 5:28, revealing that God’s law pierces to the level of inner craving, long before external sin appears. Personal Application • Guard the heart early; confess covetous thoughts promptly (Proverbs 4:23). • Cultivate gratitude and contentment to starve coveting (Philippians 4:11-13). • Seek accountability; Amnon listened to Jonadab’s wicked counsel—choose friends who point to holiness (Proverbs 13:20). • Remember the cost: what begins as secret longing can shatter lives. God’s commandment against coveting is protective, not restrictive. |
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