Home \| Categories \| What's New \| Contact Us
	10 - Do Not Covet

Do NOT Covet

This is a Bible study on Do NOT Covet. Click here for a printable Bible Study Guide.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

This is a Bible Study on the 10th commandment of the 10 commandments spoken of in Exodus 20.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt NOT covet
What is does it mean 'to covet'?
How to avoid covetousness?

Thou shalt not covet

Thou shalt not covet is the tenth commandment God gave to us.

Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's. Deuteronomy 5:21

Covetousness is a sin of the heart when we desire that which does not belong to us.

When we realize that God is enough, our wants and desires are fulfilled with Christ. We are to be content in Christ Jesus, fulfilled by the grace of God in all things.

Just like the apostle Paul, I have learned to be content in whatever state I am in (Philippians 4:11) though Christ Jesus.

What does it mean to covet?

To covet means to wish for enviously. To covet means to desire that which belongs to another.

There is covetousness of wanting, desiring what someone else owns or has, but there is also covetousness of wishing for enviously.

God says we are to put to death covetousness that is in our lives.

The word of God reads that anyone who covets is an idolater. And we know by the scripture of God that ALL idolaters will have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is hell.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

Hate covetousness

People who fear God, people of truth hate covetousness.

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: Exodus 18:21

The Lord hates covetousness

For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. Psalm 10:3

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Psalm 119:36

We are to give and not be greedy

He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. Proverbs 21:26

Promises to those who do not covet

The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. Proverbs 28:16

Covetousness is evil and defiles man

Covetousness is evil and defiles any person.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within and defile the man. Mark 7:21-23

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! Habakkuk 2:9

We are ALL subject to God's laws

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Romans 13:1,2

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Romans 13:9

Beware of covetousness

Beware of covetousness, watch out for covetousness, take heed of covetousness, don't let it creep into your life in any way. We are to make a purposeful, conscious effort to avoid covetousness, any form of covetousness, at all cost, in our lives.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15

God tells us in His Holy word that our life consists not in the abundance of things that we possess. Our life consists in the abundance of God's grace.

People who covet will NOT inherit the kingdom of God

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:10

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of things. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:3-5

Here, in this scripture from God, we see that a covetous man is called an idolater and has NO inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ.

For more information on idolaters see - NO IDOLS

Put to death covetousness in your life

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Colossians 3:5

Covetousness is defined as idolatry and greed.

Do not covet money

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

God detests the love of money so much that He said that the love of money is the root of all evil. This is a very powerful statement, that too few people learn.

Not only did God say that the love of money is the root of all evil, but He said those which covet after money have erred from the faith AND pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Here, God says that those who covet money, love money, make a mistake, they err from their faith in God. When someone loves money, it becomes their focus, their faith. They put their faith in the dollar, instead of placing their complete faith in God. They love money and think that the dollar will bring them security and happiness and peace. Money is not the god of peace. There is only one God of peace. There is only one God who gives comfort and security and true happiness and peace, the Lord God Most High, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Make note that God did not say that "money is the root of all evil", NO, God said that "the love of money is the root of all evil". So what's the difference? Simply put having money is not evil, it is "the love of money" that is evil.

When we put anything above God, when we love anything more than God we are participating in idolatry, we are placing a god above the one true living God. God said that "thou shalt have no other gods before me", this includes "the love of money".

There are numerous scriptures where God teaches us the evil of the love of money. We are to store up riches in Heaven, not riches on this earth. God knows the temptations that we face every day. God knows how the love of money can corrupt even the most faithful of His servants. God knows the love of money can make us err from our faith in Him. This is why He talks about the evil of the love money so much in His word.

In the last days of the world, more and more people will become covetous

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

How to avoid covetousness?

When you realize that you have everything you need through Christ Jesus, because you have the most important thing in life, you have God, you will be content with what you have and you will not covet.

God is enough!!

Be content with what you have. We have God, we need nothing else.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

God said He will never leave us and He will never forsake us!

How absolutely wonderful is God's grace! What more does anyone need?

Love the Lord thy God and keep his commandments.

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. Deuteronomy 8:6

Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway. Deuteronomy 11:1

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deuteronomy 7:9

Next >>

??? Not sure where to go to from here, may we suggest. . .