The Tenth Commandment (Q84-86)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Connection:
This morning we learned that we are to live in ways that are foreign to the sinful world—while living in the sinful world; we are to be in the world but not of the world.
Thomas Watson says: “But all the danger is, when the world gets into the heart. The water is useful for the sailing of the ship; all the danger is when the water gets into the ship; so the fear is, when the world gets into the heart”
How much of the world has gotten into our hearts? Into the ship of our church? Materialism, Greed and the American Dream. Do these have any presence in our midst? I’m afraid so.
Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee. - St. Augustine.
Until we find our all in all in Christ—we will never be able to truly steward his varied graces and gifts. This is what we come to tonight:
Theme:
The Tenth Commandment (84-86)
Need:
Satisfaction in God’s holiness, beauty, and glory is our great need—until we are resting in Him—our hearts are restless.
Purpose:
To rebuke out materialistic and covetous hearts; to comfort us in the godliness and contentment of Jesus Christ for our justification; and to exhort us all to obey the 10th Commandment out of love, gratitude, and joy for the Gospel.
PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY
Q84. Which is the tenth commandment? A84. The tenth commandment is Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s (Ex. 20:17).
Q84. Which is the tenth commandment? A84. The tenth commandment is Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s (Ex. 20:17).
The last of the ten commandments—the final of the 2nd Table of the Law which summarize our duties toward our fellow man. As I’ve been studying and preparing for this sermon I’ve been especially convicted by this commandment—and I think I’m in the same boat as the Apostle Paul when he says this in Romans 7:7-20
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Beloved—until we grasp the depth of the requirements of the law, spiritually, inwardly, physically, and outwardly—we will not understand the battle that is presently waging war within our own very hearts. When we truly gaze into the mirror of God’s law; we look inward and see our sinful flesh raging within. When we understand what the 10th Word Requires—we are humbled to the dust and cry out: Lord have mercy on me, a sinner. Ernie Reisenger says: “Without the Tenth Commandment we would not realize that all the commandments are spiritual and go to the heart, the thoughts, the inner man.”
Like the Pharisees our natural and sinful inclination is to treat the moral law as just dealing with the externals—to be able to think that we are blameless because we have not murdered or committed adultery—but the 10th Word reminds us that the moral law pierces the very depths of our beings—every thought, word, deed—every feeling, desire, and choice—every emotion, meditation, and action—they are all under the authority of the perfect law of liberty and are all called to be in entire submission to the perfect law of liberty.
Jesus comes along as the true Lawgiver who gave the Law at Mount Sinai—and he comes to the Mount again on the Sermon on the Mount, and he clarifies the true depth of these commands:
The Pharisees were outwardly righteous but inwardly dead-dry bones. Jesus says: Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:20).
You shall not murder? You haven’t even started to obey this command until your anger is under control (Matt. 5:21-26)
You shall not commit adultery? You haven’t even started to obey this command until your lust is under control (Matt. 5:27-30).
You think you know how to pray? How is your prayer time in your closet with your Father who sees you in secret? (Matt. 6:6).
Oh and by the word: you therefore must be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48).
Jesus, God in the flesh, the only Lawgiver and Judge—reveals to us that the moral law of God pierces into the depth of our being—true righteousness is not merely outward obedience to the law—it is an inward delight, affection, love, and joy in obedience to the law and the Lord of the law. The problem is with the heart, the spirit, for the law is spiritual.
So how does our heart find spiritual strength in the Spirit to even begin to obey these commandments? By trusting in Jesus who obeyed these commandments on our behalf, in “his fulfilling of all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15), so that we could be covered in his Righteousness—and then treasuring Him above all else—for “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). Only then can we even begin to obey the 10th Word and say with the Apostle Paul:
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
The 10th Commandment exposes our lack of true treasure, delight, satisfaction, contentment, and enjoyment of the Triune God. Where this is lacking—all other obedience is hypocrisy. When the heart is not right—the actions are not right—when the heart is not spiritually satisfied in Christ—our heads and hands are selfishly serving idols.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
True obedience to the living God is spiritual obedience—through the mind, penetrating the heart, and empowering the will—”loving the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37).
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
As we study the 10th Commandment, let’s prepare out hearts to to receive the Word on the good soil of repentance and faith in the Spirit—God give us grace to that end. One writer says:
“Our desires must be mature, so that our souls, brought to life by the Spirit, move us to pursue real treasure and eternal glory with passion”
Let’s look at what the 10th Word requires of us:
Q85. What is required in the tenth commandment? A85. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition (Heb. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:6), with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his (Job 31:29; Rom. 7:15; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Cor. 8:4, 7).
Q85. What is required in the tenth commandment? A85. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition (Heb. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:6), with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his (Job 31:29; Rom. 7:15; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Cor. 8:4, 7).
Firstly, the 10th commandment requires full contentment with our own condition:
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.”
In order to not covet—one must be content. Notice how the author of the book of Hebrews grounds his exhortation to be content—why?—why should I be content with what I have? Why can’t I be constantly longing for more stuff and things, to be like Johnny or Rachel? The Holy Spirit says: BECAUSE God will never leave you nor forsake you!
Why must I be content? Because if I’m a Christian I am indwelt by the living God Himself, the recipient of the promises of God, the beneficiary of the providence of God, and I have the privilege of being a child of God. Why must we be content? Because we have God with us, God for us, and God in us.
Who is this God? He is the eternal and infinite and unchangeable Trinity who is the “King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God—who is the only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see—He is the Ancient of Days whose clothing is white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire—a stream of fire issues and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him!—He says to whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?—Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust of the scales—The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth—I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he—I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel! And this God says to every believer: “I will be your God, and you will be my people; I will be your Father, and you shall be my sons and daughters”. And more than this—I am for you—and will never leave you, nor forsake you. I am yours, and you are mine—dear Christian.
Why ought we to be content with what we have? BECAUSE WE HAVE GOD! Is God Himself sufficient? Or must we lust after other gods, idols, and finite things to try and fill a longing that only God can satisfy.
But godliness with contentment is great gain,
The Apostle says: combine godliness and holiness and contentment and satisfaction in God and there is great gain. What do we gain with godliness and contentment? What is the benefit? A heart of joy in the Spirit—communion with the Triune God—satisfaction in His goodness and greatness—and a proper perspective on the things of eternity: “for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world”. If we have godliness and God—with these we will be content—if we have but food and clothing, but we have God, we will be content—whatever we have as a gift from God, as long as we have God—we will be content.
Oh God help us to have a spirit of contentment that we might fight against the wretched covetousness of our hearts.
Secondly, the 10th commandment requires that we have a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour and all that is his.
“If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me,
or exulted when evil overtook him
let thorns grow instead of wheat,
and foul weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Here Job is basically saying: if I have had a sinful attitude toward my neighbors wealth or lack thereof—then let me be disciplined of God.
Here we see that not only does the 10th Word require contentment with what we have—but also a proper spirit of love toward our neighbor’s possessions. Think about it: the commandment says to not covet your neighbours: house, wife, servants, animals, or anything that is your neighbours! If we aren’t to covet their property—then we must respect their property as God’s alloted gifts to them, and we must know that it is their stewardship from God—and to feel otherwise is to tell God that you would rather be the one who decides what your neighbour does and doesn’t get to have—that probably isn’t the best way to go.
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
The goal of the Apostle’s ministry and letter to Timothy is pure love—true affection and service to others; with a good conscience—a knowledge that we are walking in God’s Words and Ways; with a sincere faith—a genuine trust in God’s promises, providence, and provision.
This is what should mark our dealings with our own possessions and our neighbors possessions. Likewise Paul says:
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.
True love, true biblical love, true genuine love—it does not envy or boast (it doesn’t sinfully covet or exalt oneself); it isn’t arrogant or rude (it doesn’t pridefully scoff at others); it doesn’t insist on its own way (it doesn’t think that our preferences are divine law); it isn’t irritable or resentful (it isn’t impatient or upset at God’s allotment). True biblical love, which is the summary of the 10th commandment, means that all of such things are applied to our own possessions and the possessions of others.
The 10th Word requires that we trust God with what he has given us—that we let God determine what he is going to give others—that we praise God for our own lot, and that we praise God for his wise dealing with our neighbours. The 10th Word requires that we satisfy ourselves with the Living God—his presence, promises, power, provision, providence, and protection.
How are we doing so far? Anybody here think that they obey this commandment perfectly, personally, and perpetually? I don’t. We need a greater measure of faith by the Spirit:.
Thomas Watson says:
Faith overcomes the world! The root of covetousness is the distrust of God’s providence; faith believes God will provide,—God who feeds the birds, will feed his children,—he who clothes the lilies, will clothe his lambs,—and so faith overcomes the world. Faith is the cure of care; faith not only purifies the heart but satisfies the heart; faith makes God our portion, and so in him we have enough, Ps. 16:5, 6., “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.” Faith, by a divine chemistry, extracts its chief comfort out of God. A little with God is sweet. Thus faith is a remedy against covetousness; faith overcomes, not only the fear of the world, but the love of the world.
God help us to examine our hearts, to repent of our failure to live in godly contentment, in our failure to be satisfied with the living God Himself—God have mercy on us through Christ your Son. Grant us your Spirit that such things might be true of us, your children! Watson again writes:
O covet after heavenly things! There is the tree of life,—the mountains of spices,—the rivers of pleasure,—the honey-comb of God’s love dropping,—the delights of angels,—the flower of joy fully ripe and blown. There is the pure air to breathe in; no fogs nor vapours of sin arise to infect that air, but the Sun of Righteousness enlightens that horizon continually with his glorious beams. O let your thoughts and delights be always taken up about the city of pearl, the paradise of God! Did we covet heavenly things more, we should covet earthly things less. It is reported after Lazarus was raised from the grave, he was never seen to smile or he delighted with the world after: were our hearts raised by the power of the Holy Ghost, up to heaven, we should not be much taken with earthly things.
The problem is not that we have desires—it’s having weak, sinful, and improper desires! Our desires are meant to be Godward with divine delight and joy—not downward with earthly muck and mud.
Our problem is not that we don’t have pleasure—our problem is that we don’t have deep, abiding, and satisfying pleasure because we go to fleeting pleasure rather than eternal pleasure that is found in God alone. This is what grounds the commandment—we must not sinfully covet because we must righteously satisfy ourselves with Yahweh, His Beauty, His Glory, and His Saving Benefits.
Let’s look at what the commandment forbids:
Q86. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?A86. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate (1 Kings 21:4; Esther 5:13; 1 Cor. 10:10), envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour (Gal. 5:26; James 3:14, 16), and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his (Rom. 7:7, 8, 13:9; Deut. 5:21).
Q86. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?A86. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate (1 Kings 21:4; Esther 5:13; 1 Cor. 10:10), envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour (Gal. 5:26; James 3:14, 16), and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his (Rom. 7:7, 8, 13:9; Deut. 5:21).
First, the 10th commandment forbids all discontentment with our own estate:
And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.
Do you ever have a fissy-fart like Ahab did here? He didn’t get what he wanted, he wasn discontent with what he had, so he turned away his face and would eat no food. All too familiar I’m afraid.
Here is a great test of our godly contentment, or lack thereof—how do you respond when you really want someone but don’t get it? Do you say—well, it wasn’t the Lord’s will, but that’s okay! He knows best. Or do you say—what? I needed that! Why can’t I have it now? Ahhhhh. God help us.
This reminds us of Haman in the book of Esther doesn’t it? Haman was given so much from the king but he wasn’t content while Mordecai was still alive:
Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
When the heart is poisoned by discontentment—thankfulness for all of God’s temporal and spiritual blessings seem to vanish away—the only thing that matters is getting that thing or getting rid of that person that is in your way.
What does discontentment look like practically? Grumbling and mumbling over our circumstances:
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Remember the story of the Israelites after they had just been miraculously delivered from bondage to their enemies in the land of slavery—God was personally present with them in their midst—leading them, feeding them, guiding them—but they started grumbling over their miraculous conditions, they starting wishes that they had things different, even wishing to go back to Egypt.
Or when the spies who were sent down to the land of Canaan to scout it out and when they came back reporting the incredible difficulty of the potential conquest, after seeing God literally destroy an entire Egyptian army in the Red Sea—and the Scripture records God saying: Numbers 14:11-12
And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord.
Do we understand how serious a sin grumbling and discontentment is? Do we have the fear of the Lord and an eye to his holy and majestic glory and goodness and grace in all that He has done for us in Jesus, in all that He is doing for us by his Providence, and in all that He will do for us in the future—yet we still grumble over minor circumstances in our lives. Oh God have mercy on me, have mercy on us for our wickedness and sin. Cleanse us for Christ’s sake.
Second, the 10th commandment forbids all envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour:
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
We are not only to flee from discontentment, but we are to flee from an envious spirit toward our neighbours (or toward anything for that matter).
Now—I think there is a difference between a godly desire for something that is still rooted in contentment—versus an envious desire for something that is rooted in discontentment.
What Paul is forbidding is the latter. A jealous spirit of thinking that we must have what John has, or what Carol has, or what Dave has—that unless we get this or that, we won’t be satisfied. That is a sinful and selfish envy and jealousy that is forbidden by the 10th Word. 1 Day shipping has only fueled the flames of materialism, greed, discontentment, and an envious spirit toward one another. May God give us mercy in this area, and strength to fight against the tides of our sinful culture. James likewise says:
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
This bitter jealousy, selfish ambition is ultimately following the ways of the world, of this age, of the ways of the evil one. Demonic influence enters our lives through the state of our hearts—are we submitting to Christ the Lord, or living in ways that are pleasing to the devil who is the god of this world. Are we satisfied in Christ who is altogether lovely, or are we striving in the ways of demons who want to fill us with more, to leave us with less?
Oh let us put to death the deeds of the flesh in this area—that we would not live in this sinful spirit of covetousness.
Third, the 10th commandment forbids all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is our neighbours:
This we’ve already discussed—we are not to feel, do, or act in any way that is rooted in a spirit of sinful covetousness and jealousy. We must trust the Great God who orders all things according to this counsel of his sovereign will of decree.
I think that the 10th Word is one of God’s laws that I break most often—I think most Christians in North America would fall into this category. We break this law in word, thought, and deed every day. Our hearts are so quick to grumble and complain without faith and trust in God’s providence over all things. We are so slow to remember that God works “all things for our good” (Rom. 8:28). We are quick to pray for something without praying: not my will, but your will be done. Too often our heart posture is: not thy will, but my will be done. But there was One who never broke the 10th Word—there was One who always prayed thy will be done—there was One who was perfectly content, even when He had no place to lay his head—there was One who left the glories of heaven, for us and for our salvation, that we might be freed from bondage to our sin, from the curse of the law, from eternal death and destruction, from condemnation and hell: His name is Jesus Christ, the 2nd Person of the Trinity, God in the flesh—our Messiah, and Mediator! Riesenger writes:
“Let me issue a solemn call and invitation to all the poor lawbreakers who read these words. Be sure of this, you will not get to heaven by keeping the commandments; you are a guilty lawbreaker and need pardon, forgiveness, and mercy. Any serious consideration of the Ten Commandments will make every honest person cry out: Oh, the load of guilt that is on my soul! My head and my heart are full of sin. Oh, my sins! Every commandment takes hold upon me; how great then is the sum of my guilt!. The commandments should cause every lawbreaker to cry out: ‘come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly to my rescue. Save me, Lord, or I will perish’. [Thankfully…] Our Lord’s invitations are as wide as the needs of man. Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; any you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price … incline your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you—the sure mercies of David.’ Only Christ can save you from the hand of justice. He alone will be your protection from the arm of the law. Oh, reader, if you have any pity for your poor, perishing soul, close with the present offers of mercy. Do not shut the doors of mercy against yourself, but rather repent and be converted”
Oh dear listener—run to Jesus Christ who alone has the power to save. Run to Jesus Christ who alone has fulfilled all righteousness. Run to Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Run to Jesus whose perfect obedience can be counted to you through faith! Trust in Him! Repent of your sins. Turn from your envy and trust in the Saviour of the world! Do not let your covetousness keep you from Jesus—but bring it to Him, for He invites you to come without price and take the waters of life freely. He doesn’t require you to change first—all the fitness He requires is to feel your need of him!
Oh to go to Jesus who is our only Hope in Life and in Death! To run to Him whose very name is: “The Lord our Righteousness”! To be able to say with the prophet Isaiah: “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength!”. Oh to be able to know that “the righteous live eternally, not by works, but by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me”! Oh run to Jesus who stands ever ready to receive you in your sins—for He will cast them into the sea of his blood to never be seen again! He will blot out your iniquities, and He will cloth you with pure garments of salvation! By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone!
Don’t say that you’re too covetous—His mercy is more.
Don’t say that you’re too envious—His grace is sufficient.
Don’t say that you’re too jealous—His blood is greater.
Don’t say that you’re too much of a grumbler or complainer—His suffering was enough.
Bring all your sins to Jesus—and they shall be forgiven both now and forevermore! Continue to repent, confess, trust, and obey—as we seek to live for the glory of our God and Father, as we seek to walk in good works, as we seek to obey the 10th Word as we live a life of godly contentment, pleasure, delight, and satisfaction in the LORD—For He is worthy of the deepest affection of our hearts, the widest service of hearts, and the best devotion of our hearts.
Let us walk in the Spirit, filled with the Word of God, the power of God, bathed in unceasing prayer, continual thankfulness—godly contentment, and holy delight. That we would say with the Psalmist: Psalm 17:15
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
That we would follow our God with true delight in his spiritually rich food for the soul: Isa. 55:2
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
That we would treasure Christ our God and Saviour and know his promise through Jeremiah: Jer. 31:25
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”
That we would walk with the life of God in our souls, following Jesus to know true blessing: Matt. 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Oh that God would help us to obey the 10th Word in true holy freedom, deep spiritual pleasure, and abiding joy with thankful hearts—and when we fail, we plead his mercy, pray for the Spirit’s power, and get up again to drink deeply from the everlasting streams of the fountain of life—true treasure—and don’t worry, they’ll never run dry. Amen.
Conclusion + Big Idea
Conclusion + Big Idea
Read the Q+A’s Again:
Amen, let’s pray.