You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not covet your neighbor's house or field, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.This commandment addresses the inner desires and thoughts that can lead to sin. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a wife was considered part of a man's household and property, but this commandment elevates the moral standard by focusing on the heart's intentions. The prohibition against coveting a neighbor's wife underscores the sanctity of marriage and the importance of fidelity. It aligns with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:28, where He expands on the concept of adultery to include lustful thoughts, emphasizing the need for purity in heart and mind. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house or field,
In ancient Israel, land was a significant part of one's inheritance and identity, often passed down through generations. Coveting a neighbor's house or field could lead to actions that disrupt community harmony and violate God's distribution of land among the tribes of Israel. This commandment highlights the importance of contentment and trust in God's provision. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of stewardship, where individuals are called to manage their resources responsibly and respect others' possessions. or his manservant or maidservant,
Servants were considered part of a household's assets in ancient times, and coveting them could lead to social and economic instability. This commandment calls for respect for the social order and the dignity of individuals, regardless of their status. It also points to the broader biblical principle of treating others with fairness and justice, as seen in passages like Colossians 4:1, which instructs masters to treat their servants justly and fairly. or his ox or donkey,
Oxen and donkeys were valuable assets in an agrarian society, essential for farming and transportation. Coveting these animals could lead to theft or other unethical actions. This commandment encourages individuals to appreciate what they have and to avoid the destructive nature of envy. It also connects to the biblical theme of God's provision, as seen in Psalm 23:1, where the Lord is described as a shepherd who provides for all needs. or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
This phrase serves as a comprehensive summary, covering all aspects of a neighbor's possessions. It emphasizes the importance of respecting others' property and the dangers of unchecked desire. The commandment against coveting is unique among the Ten Commandments because it addresses internal attitudes rather than external actions. It calls believers to cultivate a heart of gratitude and contentment, aligning with Paul's teaching in Philippians 4:11-13 about being content in all circumstances. This principle is foundational for maintaining healthy relationships and a just society. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites who delivered God's commandments to the people. He is the central figure in the book of Deuteronomy, acting as a mediator between God and Israel. 2. IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who were receiving the Law as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. They are the direct audience of the commandments. 3. Mount Sinai (Horeb)The place where God originally gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. Deuteronomy recounts these events as a reminder to the Israelites. 4. Promised LandThe land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The commandments were given to guide the Israelites in their new life there. 5. NeighborRepresents fellow members of the community, emphasizing the importance of relationships and respect within the society. Teaching Points Understanding CovetousnessCoveting is more than just wanting something; it is an intense, unhealthy desire that can lead to sin. It begins in the heart and can disrupt our relationship with God and others. Contentment as a VirtueCultivating contentment is essential for a godly life. By focusing on what God has provided and trusting in His provision, we can overcome the temptation to covet. Guarding the HeartThe commandment against coveting calls us to examine our hearts and motives. We must be vigilant in guarding our hearts against envy and greed. Community and RespectRespecting others' possessions and relationships is crucial for maintaining harmony within the community. Coveting can lead to actions that harm others and disrupt social order. Spiritual FulfillmentTrue fulfillment comes from a relationship with God, not from material possessions or status. Seeking God first aligns our desires with His will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding the original Hebrew word for "covet" (chamad) deepen our comprehension of this commandment? 2. In what ways can coveting manifest in our modern lives, and how can we guard against it? 3. How does the teaching of contentment in Philippians 4:11-13 provide a practical solution to the problem of coveting? 4. Reflect on a time when coveting led to conflict in your life or community. How could the situation have been handled differently with a biblical perspective? 5. How can we encourage a culture of gratitude and contentment within our families and church communities to combat the spirit of coveting? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20:17This verse is the parallel account of the Tenth Commandment, reinforcing the prohibition against coveting. James 4:1-3Discusses the destructive nature of coveting and how it leads to conflicts and unfulfilled desires, highlighting the internal struggle that coveting creates. Philippians 4:11-13Paul speaks about contentment, which is the antidote to coveting, showing how reliance on Christ can fulfill our needs. 1 Timothy 6:6-10Warns against the love of money and material possessions, which can lead to coveting and spiritual ruin. People MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, Egypt, HorebTopics Anything, Ass, Belongs, Bondman, Covet, Desire, Donkey, Female, Field, Handmaid, Maidservant, Maid-servant, Male, Manservant, Man-servant, Neighbor, Neighbor's, Neighbour's, Ox, Servant, Wife, Woman-servantDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 5:21 4633 donkey
5832 desire
5871 greed, response to
6134 coveting, prohibition
8780 materialism, and sin Deuteronomy 5:6-21 1443 revelation, OT
7263 theocracy
8412 decisions Deuteronomy 5:16-21 8841 unfaithfulness, to people Deuteronomy 5:17-21 8242 ethics, personal Deuteronomy 5:20-21 8452 neighbours, duty to Library Prayer and Obedience
"An obedience discovered itself in Fletcher of Madeley, which I wish I could describe or imitate. It produced in him a ready mind to embrace every cross with alacrity and pleasure. He had a singular love for the lambs of the flock, and applied himself with the greatest diligence to their instruction, for which he had a peculiar gift. . . . All his intercourse with me was so mingled with prayer and praise, that every employment, and every meal was, as it were, perfumed therewith." -- JOHN WESLEY. …
Edward M. Bounds—The Necessity of PrayerThe Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
The first important part of the Old Testament put together as a whole was the Pentateuch, or rather, the five books of Moses and Joshua. This was preceded by smaller documents, which one or more redactors embodied in it. The earliest things committed to writing were probably the ten words proceeding from Moses himself, afterwards enlarged into the ten commandments which exist at present in two recensions (Exod. xx., Deut. v.) It is true that we have the oldest form of the decalogue from the Jehovist …
Samuel Davidson—The Canon of the Bible Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 "They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his Children; they are a Perverse and Crooked Generation. "
Deut. xxxii. 5.--"They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation." We doubt this people would take well with such a description of themselves as Moses gives. It might seem strange to us, that God should have chosen such a people out of all the nations of the earth, and they to be so rebellious and perverse, if our own experience did not teach us how free his choice is, and how long-suffering he is, and constant in his choice. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
Now the sanctifying of the Sabbath consists in two things--First, In resting from all servile and common business pertaining to our natural life; Secondly, In consecrating that rest wholly to the service of God, and the use of those holy means which belong to our spiritual life. For the First. 1. The servile and common works from which we are to cease are, generally, all civil works, from the least to the greatest (Exod. xxxi. 12, 13, 15, &c.) More particularly-- First, From all the works of our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Everlasting Covenant of the Spirit
"They shall be My people, and l will be their God. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me."--JER. xxxii. 38, 40. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover.
Scribes Reproach Him for Disregarding Tradition. (Galilee, Probably Capernaum, Spring a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XV. 1-20; ^B Mark VII. 1-23; ^D John VII. 1. ^d 1 And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judæa, because the Jews sought to kill him. [John told us in his last chapter that the passover was near at hand. He here makes a general statement which shows that Jesus did not attend this passover. The reason for his absence is given at John v. 18.] ^a 1 Then there …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Angel of the Lord in the Pentateuch, and the Book of Joshua.
The New Testament distinguishes between the hidden God and the revealed God--the Son or Logos--who is connected with the former by oneness of nature, and who from everlasting, and even at the creation itself, filled up the immeasurable distance between the Creator and the creation;--who has been the Mediator in all God's relations to the world;--who at all times, and even before He became man in Christ, has been the light of [Pg 116] the world,--and to whom, specially, was committed the direction …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Mount Zion.
"For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them: for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake: but ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews The Foundations of Good Citizenship.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.--Ex. 20:1-17. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible I, 194-198. Prin. of Politics, Chap. II. Lowell, Essay on "Democracy." Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Deuteronomy 5:21 NIVDeuteronomy 5:21 NLTDeuteronomy 5:21 ESVDeuteronomy 5:21 NASBDeuteronomy 5:21 KJV
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