The Tenth Commandment

                                                                    Exodus 20:17              

December 6, 2009

                                                                                                            

Introduction

I.   The last commandment is similar to the first.  In the first,  take God to be our God.  In the tenth, we covenant to be content with the life God has given us.

                                                                                               

Exposition with Application

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

I.   God’s law differs from every other system of law. The tenth commandment teaches that God’s law extends to the very desires of our hearts. 1 Sam. 16:7

V.  Outward obedience is important, because by keeping the law we show our love for Christ. John 14:15

II.  God’s judgment is coextensive with His law, reaching to our thoughts and intentions. Heb. 4:12-13

V.  On judgment day, we will give an account of our thought life.

III. God’s sovereignty is absolute.  If it extends to our thought life, there is no aspect of our lives outside His purview.  You are one person before God.  Each of our lives is one piece of fabric before God, not layers.

V.  Each of our lives are a unitary whole before God, not a not a collection of parts.

IV. Covetousness is the engine that drives nearly all the sin in our lives.  Covetousness is born of discontent with God’s Providence and God’s ways.

V.  Covetousness lies at the heart of man’s attempt to be his own god, which is why Scripture calls it idolatry, Eph. 5:5

                                                                                                             

Application

I.   Jesus warned His disciples to, “Beware of covetousness.” Luke 12:15 Beware, because:

      A.  It is a subtle sin.  Covetousness wears a cloak. 1 Thess. 2:5

      B.  It is the enemy of grace.  The cares of this world choke out the good seed of the Gospel. Matt. 13:22l

      C.  It is impossible for the covetous man to live by faith.

II.  To avoid the sin of covetousness, we must learn to be more spiritually minded.  If we would believe God’s promise that He Himself is our reward and find our contentment in Him, it would cure us of covetousness.

III.  Thank God for Jesus Christ, Who fulfilled all righteousness for us and saves us from the sin that so easily ensnares us.