Tag: Christian Advocate

Do the Ten Commandments Still Apply to Christians Today?

Do the Ten Commandments Still Apply to Christians Today? Today, many people believe the Ten Commandments belong only to the Old Testament and no longer apply to New Testament Christians. Is that true or false? Let’s examine the Scriptures and consider what the New Testament actually teaches.

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Introduction and Purpose 

Today’s presentation serves as the epilogue and final chapter of the Ten Commandments series.

Throughout the series, we have considered the continuing relevance of the Commandments today and the distance between God’s standard and much of modern society, including among professing Christians.

In part one of the series, I mentioned that God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Horeb, also called Mount Sinai, on tablets of stone. Yet there is more to that account: while Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites built an idol and began to worship it.

When Moses came down from the mountain and saw what was happening, he was so grieved that he dropped the stone tablets, breaking them.

If Moses were to witness today’s widespread confusion and neglect concerning these Commandments, he would have deep reason for concern.

Moses rebuked the Israelites severely for their apostasy, and rightly so; today, the need for clear biblical teaching remains just as urgent.

Common Objections to the Ten Commandments

Today, several common objections are used to dismiss the Commandments and, at times, the Old Testament as a whole.

Such as:

  1. “We’re under grace, not law.”

Key Scripture Used:
Romans 6:14

Argument:
Since Christians are saved by grace, they are no longer obligated to obey the Ten Commandments.

  1. “Jesus abolished the Law.”

Key Scripture Used:
Matthew 5:17 is often misunderstood.

Argument:
Christ’s death ended the Law, including the Ten Commandments.

  1. “The Ten Commandments were only for Israel.”

Argument:
They were part of Israel’s covenant and therefore do not apply to Christians.

  1. “The New Testament only teaches love.”

Key Scriptures Used:
Matthew 22:37–40
Romans 13:8–10

Argument:
Christians simply need to love others; commandments are unnecessary.

  1. “The Law was nailed to the cross.”

Key Scripture Used:
Colossians 2:14

Argument:
Everything connected to the Law ended at Calvary.

  1. “The Holy Spirit replaces the Law.”

Argument:
Christians are led by the Spirit rather than by the commandments.

  1. “Keeping commandments is legalism.”

Argument:
Any emphasis on obedience undermines salvation by faith.

  1. “The Old Testament no longer matters.”

Argument:
Christians should focus exclusively on the New Testament.

  1. “Christians only have two commandments now.”

Key Scripture Used:
Matthew 22:37–40

Argument:
Love God and love your neighbor replaced the Ten Commandments.

  1. “Nobody can keep the Ten Commandments anyway.”

Argument:
Since everyone sins, the commandments are pointless.

  1. “The Sabbath command proves the Ten Commandments are obsolete.”

Argument:
Because Christians disagree about the Sabbath, the entire Decalogue must be obsolete.

  1. “The New Testament never commands Christians to keep the Ten Commandments.”

Argument:
There is no direct command saying, “Keep the Ten Commandments.”

This article will address five of the most common objections.

  • Jesus abolished the Law.
  • We’re under grace, not law.
  • The Law was nailed to the cross.
  • Christians only have two commandments now.
  • Keeping commandments is legalism.

We will examine each objection and consider how it stands in light of Scripture.

Objection 1: Did Jesus Abolish the Law?

The first objection is that Jesus abolished the Law.

Let’s look carefully at what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17–20 NKJV.

  1. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
  2. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
  3. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
  4. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

In verse 17, Jesus explains early in His ministry that the coming of the kingdom does not cancel God’s earlier revelation through the Law and the Prophets.

Fulfillment means more than His obedience, though His obedience is central. Jesus came to bring Scripture to its intended completion and to help His followers understand its true meaning. This set Him apart from many religious leaders who misunderstood or misapplied what Scripture intended.

In verse 18, we see the lasting value of the Old Testament. Some parts of Scripture are completed through Jesus’ ministry, but the Old Testament still holds true. For example, the teaching about death and the shedding of blood to pay for sin was fulfilled once and for all by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Because of this, that Old Testament command is no longer a legal requirement; however, it remains a spiritual principle. Therefore, the underlying principle of penalty and payment for sin remains crucial and should be taught as part of God’s will.

Further, Jesus believed that the inspiration of Scripture covers every word, even down to the smallest letters. This matches the idea that all the words in Scripture are inspired. Scripture does not just include God’s word; its words are God’s word.

Moving to verse 19, doing and teaching the commandments hold great value. A disciple’s place in God’s kingdom reflects whether that person takes God’s will seriously or ignores it, and whether that person obeys and teaches it as God’s true Word. The terms “least” and “great” describe those who have been faithful in both words and actions to what Jesus teaches about God’s will.

So, what is the Christian’s relationship to the Law? The Law shows God’s perfect righteousness. We ignore God’s will if we set aside parts of His Word. The Law was given to show us our sin and lead us to Christ. Jesus objected to wrong interpretations of the Law, not the Law itself. Some Pharisees treated their own interpretations as equal to the Law, but Jesus rejected their practices, not the Law itself.

Jesus fulfilled the Law and showed Himself to be the perfect God-man, making Him able to give us right standing with God. Because of this, we do not rely on the Law to be saved.

Jesus also explained the Law, showing which parts are lasting principles and which are temporary rituals. He taught that the whole Old Testament is grounded in loving God and loving others.

Objection 2: Are Christians Under Grace, Not Law?

The next objection is that Christians are under grace, not Law.

We have just seen that Jesus fulfilled the Law through His life, death, and the shedding of His blood. Therefore, we no longer offer blood sacrifices; however, that does not cancel God’s moral standard.

Grace becomes necessary because we break the Law. The fact is, we are all lawbreakers. Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one;”  Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

David wrote in Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” This is why Jesus said in John 3:3, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 3:22–24 NKJV makes this clear:

  1. But the Scripture has confined ALL UNDER SIN, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ [born again] might be given to those who believe.
  2. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
  3. Therefore the law was our tutor to BRING US TO CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith.

Now, that’s grace!

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV adds:

  1. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Here is the question: Because we accept Christ by faith and receive grace, does that abolish the Law? Because we have faith in Christ, is it acceptable to worship other gods, take God’s name in vain, disregard the Sabbath day, dishonor our parents, kill our fellow man, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness against our neighbor, or covet what our neighbor has? These are the Ten Commandments.

Is it acceptable to do those things? Absolutely not. These actions remain wrong because God’s moral Law still identifies sin.

The New Testament says that if we break the Law, we have sinned.

1 John 3:4 KJV

  1. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of THE LAW.

What Law is the Scripture referring to? The same moral standard God established in the Old Testament. When we break God’s Law, we have sinned.

Do the Ten Commandments Still Apply to Christians Today?

So, are we under the Law or under grace? The answer is both. The Law condemns and convicts; it does not give the power to obey. In short, we are to obey the Law, but when we break it, we can repent and find grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Put simply, if we were not under the Law, why would we need grace? The Law was not abolished.

For a fuller explanation, see the additional teaching linked below.

Objection 3: Was the Law Nailed to the Cross?

The next objection is that the Law was nailed to the cross.

This objection usually refers to Colossians 2:13–15 NKJV.

  1. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
  2. having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
  3. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

This passage shows what Christ’s forgiveness means. When He forgave our sins (vs.13), He took away our record of wrongdoing. That record was like a written list of how we broke the law. Since we could never pay back the debt of sin, God erased it for us.

Verse 14 uses figurative language to illustrate what Christ’s death on the cross accomplished. Christ took away our record of wrongs by bringing it to the cross. In that sense, He nailed it there and cleared our debt with His blood. Because of His sacrifice, nothing can block our path or keep us from freedom. No human rules or religious rituals, whether from Judaism or from false teachings, can replace or add to what Christ has done for us. The death of Jesus on the cross completely settled what Christian believers owed to God.

However, Christ’s death did not abolish the Law. As we saw earlier, He fulfilled the Law. When Jesus was nailed to the cross, His death took away our debt of sin.

Objection 4: Do Christians Have Only Two Commandments?

The next objection is that Christians have only two commandments today.

This objection is based on Jesus’ answer in Matthew 22:36-40 NKJV, when a lawyer asked Him which commandment was greatest in the Law.

  1. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
  2. Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
  3. This is the first and great commandment.
  4. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
  5. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

First, notice that Jesus was asked which commandment was greatest in the Law. He did not say there was no Law; instead, He immediately appealed to the Old Testament.

He referred to the commandments concerning love for God and love for neighbor. What happens when we obey these two commandments? Scripture gives the answer.

Romans 13:8–10 NKJV explains:

  1. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has FULFILLED THE LAW.
  2. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
  3. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW.

Love for God is foundational and needs little explanation because it is central to the believer’s relationship with Him.

As verse 10 makes clear, when we love our neighbor, we are fulfilling the Ten Commandments—the Law. Scripture says, “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

As explained in part nine, our neighbor includes everyone; in that sense, we are all neighbors. Now, let’s connect the dots.

To love God covers the first four commandments, and to love our neighbor covers the remaining commandments: we will not murder, steal, bear false witness, commit adultery, dishonor our parents, or covet what belongs to another.

That includes all Ten Commandments, not merely two.

Another Scripture ties this thought together: 1 John 4:21 NKJV.

  1. And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Bottom line: love fulfills the Law.

Therefore, the claim that Christians are completely free from God’s moral Law is a serious misunderstanding.

This misconception is widespread among Christians, and it needs to be addressed with Scripture.

We must stop looking for ways to dismiss the Law, stop making excuses for sin, and return to the Word of God.

Galatians 3:13 NKJV

  1. Christ has redeemed us from the CURSE of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

Notice carefully: we are free from the curse of the Law, not from the Law itself. The curse is the condemnation of the Law. Romans 8:1 says:

  1. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…

When we accept Jesus by faith and repent of our sins—the breaking of the Law—we are not condemned. We are free from the curse of the Law.

Objection 5: Is Commandment Keeping Legalism?

The final objection is that keeping the commandments is legalism.

Legalism is depending on Law keeping for salvation.

As noted earlier, Jesus fulfilled the Law and showed Himself to be the perfect God-man, making Him able to give us right standing with God. Because of this, we do not rely on the Law to be saved.

We do not keep the Law in order to be saved; we are saved through faith in Jesus. However, we obey the commandments because we are saved.

1 John 3:22

  1. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

When we keep the Commandments, we reap the benefits!

Think of it this way: if we want to join a club, we do not follow the club’s rules in order to qualify for membership. We must first meet the qualifications.

After we become members, however, we follow the club’s rules to remain in good standing and enjoy its benefits.

We are saved because we have met the requirement of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior by faith. We are also called to keep the commandments—to follow God’s standard.

Back to what the Scripture says in Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

  1. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

We cannot do enough to earn salvation; therefore, Law-keeping by itself cannot save us. We are saved by grace.

But make no mistake: we are called to obey the commandments of God.

New Testament Scripture makes this clear.

1 John 2:3-5 NKJV

  1. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

Now watch verse 4

  1. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
  2. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

1 John 5:3 NKJV

  1. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

The New Testament says that if we profess to know Him but do not keep His commandments, we are not telling the truth.

Jesus said in John 14:15 NKJV

  1. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

In verse 21, He said:

  1. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

So, if we want to be in Christ and in God, we must keep His commandments.

My friends, we are called to keep the Commandments of God—all of them.

The Old Testament and the New Testament Together

We must never disregard the Old Testament. As we have seen, Jesus fulfilled it; He did not nullify it.

The New Testament confirms the Old Testament, which remains the foundation of God’s Word. The New Testament contains hundreds of Old Testament quotations, along with many additional allusions and parallels.

Closing Appeal

As I close, consider this:

Without the Old Testament, there would be no New Testament.

It is troubling to hear someone say, “I cannot deal with the Old Testament; there is too much judgment. I am a New Testament believer, and I am under grace.”

Statements like that reflect a serious misunderstanding of the full counsel of Scripture.

The New Testament contains significant teaching on judgment, including the book of Revelation. The Old Testament mainly records judgment involving Israel, while Revelation describes judgment on the entire world yet to come.

Revelation 14:12 NKJV speaks directly about those who obey God’s commandments:

  1. Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

The previous verse describes the demise of the ungodly, while this verse presents the godly as “those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

We are living in the last days, and it is time to stop relying on personal opinions or excuses for sin and return to the Word of God.

I will close this presentation the same way King Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived, closed his reflection on life.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV

  1. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:

for this is the whole duty of man.

  1. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

My friends, we are called to keep God’s Commandments.

Period. Full stop!

Our eternal destiny is at stake.

Amen!

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

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The Ten Commandments Part 10: What Does The Bible Say About Coveting?

What does the Bible say about coveting? This article is an in-depth exegesis of the Tenth Commandment. It explains the true meaning of coveting and the consequences it can produce in individuals, families, and nations.

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Scripture Foundation

Exodus 20:17 NKJV

  1. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Understanding Covetousness

The Scripture says, “You shall not covet.” But what does it mean to covet? According to Merriam-Webster, to covet is to desire something earnestly, especially something that belongs to another person, in an excessive or wrongful way.

In simple terms, coveting is an uncontrolled desire for wealth, possessions, status, or anything that belongs to someone else.

Biblically, covetousness is a selfish, excessive desire to possess what another person has. It goes beyond ordinary desire and becomes a craving for wealth, position, or possessions that replaces contentment in God. Scripture identifies this kind of desire as idolatry.

Colossians 3:5 NKJV

  1. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians uses the word “covetousness,” which means the state of being covetous. The root word is covet.

Coveting is destructive because it often begins quietly—as a thought or desire—but can gradually take control of the heart and mind. If it is not confronted, it can grow into a temptation that feels difficult to resist. That is why we need God’s strength to help us reject the desire to take or pursue what does not belong to us. Covetousness is rooted in human nature and lies behind many problems in society.

The Tenth Commandment Addresses the Heart

This commandment is different from all the others.

Most of the previous commandments deal with actions, such as:

  • Murder
  • Adultery
  • Stealing
  • Lying

But coveting deals with something that may never become visible to anyone else.

It addresses the heart.

Although covetousness appears last in the Ten Commandments, it is not a lesser sin. It is often overlooked because, unlike murder or theft, it may remain hidden. Yet it is dangerous precisely because it can take hold of us before we recognize it.

Few sermons, lessons, or books focus on covetousness, even though it is one of society’s most common struggles. At its core, covetousness is a craving that can capture the heart, and our culture is saturated with it, just as Israel was.

Covetousness in Society and Culture

Let’s look at what God said through His prophet Jeremiah as He pronounced judgment upon Israel.

Jeremiah 6:13 NKJV

  1. “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely.

Unchecked covetousness produces the condition Jeremiah described: “Everyone deals falsely.”

Modern culture often encourages coveting. Entire industries profit by creating dissatisfaction, and advertising frequently pushes the idea that we need more than we have.

For example, five mornings a week, I power walk outside and use an app to track my steps, time, and distance. Before I can begin, advertisements often interrupt the app, forcing me to wait. Those few seconds may seem small, but they show how aggressively advertising inserts itself into our lives. If we are not careful, it trains us to want what we do not need.

Advertising frequently says:

  • You must have more
  • You deserve more.
  • You need what they have.
  • Your life would be better if you owned this.
  • Compare yourself to others.

We live in a comparison-driven society, and social media has intensified that pressure.

People constantly see:

  • Other people’s homes
  • Vacations
  • Cars
  • Relationships
  • Success

When we focus on what others have, admiration can turn into envy, envy into resentment, and resentment into obsession.

Examples of Covetousness and Its Destruction

Covetousness is deeply destructive. It harms individuals, families, and even nations. Let’s consider both a biblical example and a modern-day example.

Biblical Example: Israel Desiring a King

First, the biblical example: Israel had been delivered from slavery in Egypt and was led by God. But over time, the people decided that God’s leadership was not enough.

1 Samuel 8:4-22 NKJV

This passage is lengthy, but it is important to read it fully. Afterward, we will consider what it reveals.

This is the account of Israel’s request to Samuel for a king.

  1. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,
  2.  and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
  3. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.
  4. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.
  5. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
  6. So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king.
  7. And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots.
  8. He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
  9. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
  10. And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.
  11. He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants.
  12. And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
  13. He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants.
  14. And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”
  15. NEVERTHELESS the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
  16. that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
  17. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord.
  18. So the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.”

And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”

If Israel chose to live under a monarchy, their freedom would be greatly limited. Samuel warned them of several consequences.

1) In verses 11–12, their sons would be taken for military service. They would care for horses and chariots, serve in the king’s forces, and many would be removed from their homes for war.

2) In verse 12, people would be forced into labor, working in fields and producing food, weapons, and equipment for the king.

3) In verse 13, their daughters would be taken to serve in the royal household as perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

4) In verse 14, the king would take their best fields, vineyards, and olive groves for his servants and officials.

5) In verse 15, he would impose taxes to support his government and reward his officers.

6) In verse 16, he would take servants, workers, and valuable animals for his own use.

7) In verse 17, he would take a portion of their flocks and increase their burdens.

8) In short, the people would lose freedoms and become servants of the king. His demands would come first, and their liberty would depend on his character and justice.

Yet even after hearing these warnings, the people insisted in verses 19–20: “No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

It is important to understand that wanting a king was not wrong in itself. God had already allowed for a king in His law (Deuteronomy 17:14–20; see also Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:7, 17).

Deuteronomy 17:15, 20 NKJV

  1. you shall surely set a king over you whom THE LORD YOUR GOD CHOOSES; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
  2. that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.

The problem was their motive. They wanted a king “like all the nations,” instead of a leader chosen and shaped by God. In doing so, they rejected God’s rule and broke the covenant with Him.

There is a saying: Be careful what you ask for—you just might get it. Israel asked, and God gave them what they wanted.

As pointed out earlier, the king’s demands would come first, and their liberty would depend on his character and justice.

Because of Solomon’s sins, God divided the kingdom, leaving only one tribe, Judah in the south because of His covenant with David (1 Kings 11:13). The northern kingdom of Israel eventually had nineteen kings, all of whom were evil. Judah had twenty kings, twelve of whom were evil.

Those wicked kings led Israel and Judah into idolatry and destruction. Eventually, both kingdoms fell, and many survivors were exiled to Babylon for 70 years.

All of this began with a covetous desire to be like the surrounding nations. They wanted what others had, without considering the spiritual cost.

The lesson is clear: we must not covet what others have because we do not know the cost behind it. We may not know why they have it, how they got it, or what burdens came with it. The grass may look greener on the other side—until we get there.

The consequences of sin are not always immediate. Israel’s downfall unfolded over hundreds of years, but it still came.

Now, there are other Biblical examples of covetousness, but this is the one I was led to share.

Modern Example: Coveting What Belongs to Another Nation

Now, let’s look at a modern example of the destruction of covetousness.

Now let’s consider a modern example. Russia is geographically the largest country in the world, yet its leader desired control over Ukraine. The consequences have been devastating.

According to reports from the World Bank and Reuters:

If we use mid-range estimates:

  • Military dead: roughly 300,000–450,000+
  • Military wounded/missing: well over 1 million
  • Civilian dead: 15,000+ verified, likely more
  • Civilians injured: 40,000+ verified
  • Property damage in Ukraine alone: about $195 billion
  • Reconstruction cost: roughly $588 billion

And those figures do not fully account for economic losses, lost productivity, demographic decline, refugees, or the destruction inside Russia from Ukrainian strikes. The true economic cost on both sides is far higher.

From a historical perspective, it is already one of the bloodiest and most destructive wars in Europe since World War II.

The numbers are staggering, and the war is not over. This is what covetousness can produce when one leader desires what belongs to another nation. We must ask: is it worth it?

So, we have two examples of covetousness destroying nations. Now imagine what can happen in individual lives and families.

Covetousness Today: The Financial Cost of Wanting More

One way we see covetousness today is in the financial state of our society. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Americans together owe about $18.8 trillion in household debt. This includes mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit card debt. Most of this is from mortgages, but the average household still has about $21,600 in other types of debt.
Some debt is necessary, but a lot of it is optional and could be avoided. Many people take on extra debt because they spend more than they can afford, not out of need, but because they want things they see, hear about, or notice others have. This is at the heart of covetousness: always wanting more, no matter the need or the future cost.
Scripture offers a sobering perspective on such behavior. Proverbs 22:7 states:
7. “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
This verse shows that too much debt can trap us financially. What starts as a wish for a better life or more comfort can end up making us dependent and less free, and it can hurt our ability to manage what we have.
Spiritually, the effects are even more serious. “If we let jealousy, envy, and the constant pursuit of material things rule our lives, we go against the values of contentment and trust in God. It makes us ask: how can we hope to inherit God’s kingdom if we are always wanting what others have?
In the end, covetousness is not just a personal issue. It is a problem in our culture that affects us financially and spiritually. To change, we need to practice careful management, be thankful, and focus on being content with what God has already given us.

Scriptural Warnings Against Coveting

We are so warned about coveting in the Scriptures.

Again, the tenth Commandment reads in  Exodus 20:17: NKJV

  1. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

We are not to covet, as the Scripture reads, “anything that is your neighbor’s.”

That means we should not be consumed with our neighbor’s possessions, business, or blessings. Instead, we are to focus faithfully on what God has entrusted to us.

As we do, we should live with thanksgiving and contentment.

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

  1. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV

  1. Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Our focus should be on God and godliness, not on our neighbor’s possessions or the temporary things of this world.

When we put our trust in man rather than in God, there is a price to pay.

Jeremiah 17:5 NKJV

  1. Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.

This is what Israel did, and we have seen the result. The same warning applies to individuals who place their trust in people or possessions rather than in God.

And now we look at the end result.

Ephesians 5:5 NKJV

  1. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor COVETOUS man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Notice that these warnings appear in both the Old and New Testaments.

How Covetousness Leads to Other Sins

The Tenth Commandment ties the others together because covetousness can lead us to break every commandment. It can lead us to:

Have other gods before God #1

Bow down to idols #2

Take the Lord’s name in vain #3

Not honor the Sabbath #4

Dishonor our fathers and mothers #5

Kill one another #6

Commit adultery #7

To steal #8

To bear false witness #9

A covetous person cannot covet without breaking at least one or more of these commandments; depending on how severe a case may be.

Bottom line: They will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Choosing Contentment and Trusting God

The Tenth Commandment teaches that God is concerned not only with our actions, but also with our desires.

We cannot live consumed by what our neighbors have or driven by excessive desire for the things of this world.

How can we inherit heaven while holding on to jealousy and envy? It cannot work.

But the Lord is gracious. If covetousness has taken root in us, it is not too late to turn from it and learn contentment.

My position is this: things can always be better, but they could also be worse. So I thank God for what I have and choose to be content. What is not mine was not meant for me, and what God has for me will come in His time.

As Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

What Does the Bible Say About Coveting?

Seek God, trust what He has for you, and let Him bring it to pass.

Be blessed— and have a Great Day!

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

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