FAQs Mondays: What Is the Tenth Commandment?

Last week, we answered the question, "What is the ninth commandment?". You can read that post here.  This week, we turn our attention to the final commandment, and we ask, "What is the tenth commandment?"

Which is the tenth commandment?

The tenth commandment is, "You shall not covet they neighbor's house.  You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maid servant, his oxen or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Ex. 20:17).

What is required by the tenth commandment?

The tenth commandment requires contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor, and all that is his.  Leviticus 19:18 states, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but your shall love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the LORD."  Hebrews 13:5 states, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"  Paul said, "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment" (1 Tim. 6:6).  He also said, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (Rom. 12:15).  Again he reminds,

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

What is forbidden by the tenth commandment?

The tenth commandment forbids all murmuring over our own condition and all envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate affections for anything that is his.  Paul commands, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another" (Gal. 5:26).  He again he suggests, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5).  James 5:9 states, "Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door."

Summary

So we see that the tenth commandment is a warning to be content with the things that God has given to us.  Next week, we answer the question, "What happens if we can't keep the commandments?".