Driven by Desire

The problem of covetousness begins in the mind of one who doesn’t have, or doesn’t have enough, consequently living with discontentment and desire. Although it involves one’s emotions, covetousness isn’t the heart of people’s problem. Actually, the Bible speaks of covetousness in morally neutral terms, with the context determining its positive or negative implication. This is why the tenth commandment doesn’t forbid all coveting; it forbids the coveting of what belongs to another, an inordinate desire to have what isn’t yours. 

Where God condemns coveting another’s man’s wife or possessions (Ex.20:17), Jesus takes that command a step further by prohibiting an illicit relationship. Controlled by a heart that is sinful, the covetous person will not just want but will actually take what doesn’t belong to himself or herself, which is not only implicit theft but complicit adultery. In Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus mentions the 7th Commandment (adultery) and compares it with coveting. The Greek word epithumeo (translated lust or desire) also means to covet and corresponds to the Hebrew word, chamad (desire, covet, delight in).