Why is “You shall not covet” in the Ten Commandments?

Answer

The key to understanding this commandment lies in the definition of the word “covet.” Two different Hebrew words are used in the passages condemning coveting (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21), and both mean “to lust after or to long for with great desire.” Since the commandments are given as “you shall not’s,” the desire in this case is for something that is not the property of the desirer and not rightfully his to long after. In this commandment, the Israelites are instructed not to lust after their neighbor’s possessions—his house, land, ox or donkey, or the people in his life—his wife or servants, both male and female. The Israelites were not to desire, long for, or set their hearts on anything that belonged to anyone else.

While several of the commandments prohibit certain actions, such as murder and theft, this is one of the commandments that addresses the inner person, his heart, and mind. As James 1:15 tells us, sin originates in the inner person, and in this case, covetousness is the precursor of all manner of sin, including theft, burglary, and embezzlement. At its core, coveting is the result of envy, a sin which, once it takes root in the heart, leads to worse sins. Jesus reiterated this very thought in the Sermon on the Mount when He said that lust in the heart is just as sinful as committing adultery «but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. », (Matthew 5:28). Envy goes beyond casting a longing glance at the neighbor’s new car. Once dwelled upon, envy of the neighbor’s possessions can turn into feelings of resentment and hatred for the neighbor himself. This can lead to resentment against God and questioning Him: “Why can’t I have what my neighbor has?”

“Don’t I have what he has, Lord? Don’t you love me enough to give me what I want?”

God’s reasons for condemning covetousness are valid. Envy, at its core, is self-love. Envious, selfish individuals are unhappy and discontented. A society composed of such individuals is fragile because envious malcontents, as mentioned earlier, are more likely to commit crimes against each other, further weakening the societal structure. Additionally, the New Testament identifies covetousness as a form of idolatry, a sin that God abhors «Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: », (Colossians 3:5). Ultimately, envy and covetousness are tools of Satan to divert us from pursuing the only source of true happiness and contentment—God Himself. God’s Word teaches us that “godliness with contentment is great gain” and that we should be content with life’s basic necessities (1 Timothy 6:6-8), as genuine happiness is not found in material possessions but in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Only through this can we attain what is valuable, genuine, stable, fulfilling, and enduring—the immeasurable riches of God’s grace.