Decalogue, part 10 (Deuteronomy 24:17-26:15)

Scripture: Deuteronomy 24:17-26:16 (especially 24:17-22)

We are moving through Moses' delivery of the Law to Israel just before they finally enter the promised land. Each section generally corresponds to one of the Ten Commandments, in order, and today we've finally come to the section related to #10:

You shall not covet. (The complete text: "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's wife or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.")


This last commandment strikes me as unique in that it speaks against an inward attitude, not an outward behavior. The other nine are much more tangible: don't worship idols, don't commit adultery, don't steal, etc. But this last one cuts to the heart-- don't covet anything your neighbor has.

In this sense, I think this passage anticipates Jesus' moral teachings. In His famous 'sermon on the mount,' Jesus shifted the idea of morality from the level of actions to that of thoughts and desires. His examples actually refer to some of the Ten Commandments themselves: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." 

Jesus seems, in His teachings, to have two reasons for teaching people to be pure not just in action, but in heart. For one, God sees our hearts and so their condition matters. If someone is seething with racism and rage toward another, but refrains from actually physically attacking the person, that's still a broken situation in need of God's grace. And secondly, Jesus knows that actions flow from the thoughts and feelings within. If we remove coveting from our hearts, we will naturally be less likely to steal, commit adultery, or slander someone.

But how do we remove this covetous part of our human nature? I think one practical antidote is given right here in Deuteronomy 24: generosity. The Israelites were commanded to be freely giving with their leftover grain, olives, and grapes. These were to serve as a blessing to the orphans and widows.

Have you been struggling with comparison or envy? If so, maybe an act of generosity will help realign your heart to a place of gratitude and thanksgiving.