Dictionary of Bible Themes » 6000 Sin and salvation » 6100 Aspects of sin » 6133 coveting » 6134 coveting, prohibition of
Coveting is forbidden by God and can lead to terrible consequences. It occasionally refers to a commendable earnest desiring.
Coveting is forbidden by God
In the Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:17 pp Deuteronomy 5:21 Romans 7:7-8 Coveting is provoked by the law that forbids it. See also Romans 13:9-10
Through the prophets
Isaiah 5:8; Isaiah 57:17; Ezekiel 33:31; Amos 2:6; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 8:5-6; Micah 2:2
In Jesus Christ's teaching
Matthew 6:19-21 See also Luke 12:15
Coveting has some terrible consequences
2 Samuel 11:2-4 adultery; 1 Kings 21:18-19 murders
Failure to enter the kingdom of heaven:
Matthew 18:1-3; Mark 9:33-35 pp Luke 9:46-48; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Acts 5:3-10 God's judgment
Further examples of coveting
Joshua 7:21 See also Deuteronomy 7:25; Joshua 22:20 Achan; 1 Samuel 2:12-15 Eli's sons; 1 Samuel 8:3 Samuel's sons; 1 Samuel 15:9-10 Saul; Proverbs 30:16; Jeremiah 6:13; Jeremiah 8:10; Habakkuk 2:5 Israel's enemies are likened to the grave, always swallowing people and never satisfied; Acts 8:13-23 Simon the sorcerer
Believers may pray to be free from coveting
Psalm 119:36
Godly people claim not to have coveted
Samuel
1 Samuel 12:3-5
Paul
Acts 20:33 See also 1 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 7:2; Corinthians 11:9; Corinthians 12:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 2:5
Coveting as a commendable earnest desiring
A desire for the greater spiritual gifts:
1 Corinthians 12:31; Corinthians 14:1,39 1 Timothy 3:1 a desire to serve in a leadership role in the church
See also
5446 poverty 5832 desire 5869 greed 8262 generosity, human 8808 riches
