The Ten Commandments: Tenth Commandment

Exodus 20:17

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY

Creation. Abraham. MOSES. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to Come.

“How much money is enough?”

That question was reportedly asked to John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), one of the wealthiest Americans of the twentieth century. “How much money is enough?”

Rockefeller responded: “Just a little bit more.”[1]

A common spiritual challenge addressed in the tenth commandment—"You shall not covet"—is something many of us face. If we're honest, most of us want just a little more. We're thankful for what we have, but the idea of having something bigger, better, faster, and more satisfying is tempting—wouldn’t you agree? 

In our God’s Story in God’s People study, we are exploring the Ten Commandments— a series within a series. Today, we conclude with command #10—You shall not covet. 

TEN COMMANDMENTS REVIEW:
First Commandment: No god but God (Ex. 20:2-3)
Second Commandment: No Images (Ex. 20:4-6)
Third Commandment: Don’t misuse God’s name (Ex. 20:7)
Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-11)
Fifth Commandment: Honor your father and mother (Ex. 20:12)
Sixth Commandment: Do not murder (Ex. 20:13)
Seventh Commandment: Do not commit adultery (Ex. 20:14)
Eighth Commandment: Do not steal (Ex. 20:15)
Ninth Commandment: Do not lie (Ex. 20:16)

TENTH COMMANDMENT: DO NOT COVET (Ex. 20:17)

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. 

The Hebrew word translated as “covet” (Heb: tahmod) means “to desire,” “to take pleasure in,” or “to delight in something.” To covet is to have a strong, passionate, and overwhelming desire for something I don’t have.

Often, coveting manifests as greed—wanting to take more than you need. Sometimes, it appears as avarice—an endless desire for wealth. How much is enough? Just a little more. Coveting also appears as envy—desiring what others have or having an unhealthy view of how God has blessed others. All these attitudes and actions are forms of covetousness. 

This final command includes specific examples.

• You shall not covet your neighbor’s possessions.
  Specifically, the command refers to your neighbor’s house, but it can also include cars, recreational vehicles, memberships, clothing, second homes, and any of your neighbor’s possessions you might fixate on having. 
  
  
• You shall not covet your neighbor’s relationships.
  When applying Scripture, there is an interpretive principle called “greater to lesser.” You start with the greatest application (what is most significant), and all lesser ones are included. The greatest human relationship for a man and woman is found in marriage—the lifelong covenant of intimate faithfulness. Therefore, if the greatest human relationship should not be coveted, neither should lesser relationships, such as family, friends, or other acquaintances. 
  
  
• You shall not covet your neighbor’s position.
  When this command discusses servants and livestock, it reflects a person’s social and financial status. The more servants and livestock someone has, the wealthier and more socially prominent they are. Today, instead of servants and livestock, we might look at net worth, titles, skills, appearance, or property. Let’s be honest, no matter where we are in life, there’s probably someone whose status surpasses ours. 
  
  
• You shall not covet…anything that is your neighbor’s.
  God does not want this command to become a legalistic checklist. So, he included the all-encompassing phrase “anything that is your neighbor’s.” Let’s also consider more conceptual aspects—such as the influence a person has on social media, their number of followers, and their number of “likes.” 

To clarify, this commandment isn't about being complacent. When we observe godly individuals working diligently, that should motivate us to do the same (Eph. 4:28; 1 Thess. 4:11-12). Seeing a godly marriage should inspire us. What married couple doesn’t want a God-honoring and fulfilling relationship? We should take care to nurture our closest relationships. We are not to use this command as an excuse for laziness, indecision, or neglect.

This commandment emphasizes our need to be content — to be satisfied with what God provides and where we are in life. All we have comes from God; he is sovereign over everything. Therefore, “keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5).

Contentment is not natural; it is part of our ongoing spiritual growth. Paul said that through the hills and valleys of his life, he learned to be content (Phil. 4:11-13). In encouraging Timothy, he wrote, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” (1 Tim. 6:6). Do you know how much money Rockefeller left when he passed away? All of it! We come with nothing; we leave with nothing—except our relationship with Jesus.

Put simply, this commandment can be summarized as: Be satisfied with God and everything he has given you.

Leo Tolstoy wrote a short story titled “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” I will include the story in the Weekend Recharge, but for now, it's about a man named Pahom who always wanted more land and died trying to get it. The story ends like this:

His servants picked up the spade and dug a grave long enough for Pahom to lie in, and buried him in it. Six feet from his head to his heels was all [the land] he needed.[2]

When it’s all said and done—in the end—all we need is Jesus.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on Exodus 20:17. Where do you most often struggle with coveting—possessions, relationships, or position—and why?

Talking to God: Ask God to help you take the necessary steps to address coveting in your life. 

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. If you're interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus or seeking spiritual guidance, let us help you take the next step.

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