10th Commandment – You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Pastor S. Collins www.LifePointRenton.org
Exodus 20 v 17
Music that goes with this
Love Comes Down – Lenny LeBlanc
More of You – Fortune
This commandment is the last one and is probably the hardest to follow.
This commandment is about the secret place of your heart only known by you and God.
This is more than just moral behavior on the outside but being right on the invisible inside and you can break the commandments with your inner attitude. This is a level that separates the moral from those who are “all in with Jesus”.
3 truths about the 10th Commandment
1. The 10th commandment is the key to understanding the other 9.
2. This commandment focuses on my heart.
3. Coveting is known only to me and God.
Jesus took the original 10 commandments, took them to a new level and showed us how God looks at them. They are about outward actions and our inward attitude.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean”; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean’.” Matthew 15:19-20
2 biblical examples of when confronted with the 10th commandment the different roads you can take re eternal life.
Road 1 – Rich young man.. He had everything and outwardly kept the commandments but he placed more value on his possessions than he did with a relationship with Jesus. Luke 18:18-29
Road 2 – Saul of Tarsus – later became Paul – Was the best of the Jews but after Paul met Jesus he viewed his life differently and changed internally – in his heart – and realized loving and following Jesus was the right choice. Phil 3:4-6
You can be a good moral person and not love God. You are missing the boat
You can be a good moral person and not love your neighbor. You are missing the boat.
Or you can catch the boat by – Loving God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself – and follow God’s laws out of love.
We have a God who loves us so much he gave us guidance on how to live:
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shalt have no other Gods before me
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall not make or worship idols
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall not misuse my name
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall keep the Sabbath holy
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall honor your father and mother
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall not murder
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall not commit adultery
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall not steal
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall not give false testimony
Because I love you and you are mine – Thou shall not covet your neighbor’s things
When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment he said “The most important one is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
I think being closer and following the guidance of a God who loves me and wants what’s best for me is the best decision I can make for eternity.
Think of SIN as a disease. The sins (actions we commit) are symptoms of what is in our heart. We all have the disease – what we need is a cure – a heart transplant – God can create a pure heart and a right spirit for you. You have to accept him and get a heart cleansing and spiritual rebirth.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. – Ezekiel 36:26-27
Are you out of the boat or in it?
Do you want a heart cleansing & spiritual rebirth that lasts a lifetime?