How does Deuteronomy 5:21 define coveting in a biblical context? Seeing the Command in Black and White “ ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not desire your neighbor’s house or field, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.’ ” (Deuteronomy 5:21) Key Observations from the Text • Two strong verbs appear side by side—“covet” and “desire.” • The objects listed cover every sphere of life: – Relationship: “your neighbor’s wife” – Real estate: “house or field” – Labor: “male or female servant” – Livelihood: “ox or donkey” – A sweeping catch-all: “anything that belongs to your neighbor” What “Coveting” Means Here • An inward craving for what God has entrusted to someone else • A heart-level longing, not merely an outward act • A desire that refuses to be content with God’s provision The Heart Issue Behind the Command • Coveting exposes discontent (Philippians 4:11–12 implies the alternative of contentment). • It elevates created things above the Creator—“greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). • It breeds further sin: “after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin” (James 1:14-15). Why Coveting Is Serious • It targets the inner person, revealing that God’s law speaks to motives, not just actions (Romans 7:7). • It undermines love for neighbor by turning them into obstacles to personal gratification (Luke 12:15). • It questions God’s goodness and sovereignty over one’s allotment of blessings. Practical Markers of Coveting • Comparing personal circumstances with others and feeling resentment • Secret fantasies of possessing another’s spouse, position, or possessions • Grumbling over what God has withheld rather than thanking Him for what He has given Walking in Obedience • Cultivate gratitude: regularly recount God’s specific gifts (1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Redirect desire: set the heart on things above, not merely on earthly gain (Colossians 3:2). • Practice generosity: giving loosens the grip of wanting and strengthens trust in God’s provision (2 Corinthians 9:7-8). |
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