The 10th Commandment

[Demian]

Perhaps someone can explain this to me because it has always been something I found very confusing about Christianity.

The 10th Commandment, as it was taught to me states that "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife".

This law is unique amongst the ten commandments and it seems, God's laws in general in that it is purely a thought-crime, (a act that happens only in your head.) The 7th Commandment already outlaws ALL of adultery in general so I ask why God would find it necessary to add this commandment. After all the bible and Christians in general believe one can have immoral thoughts but as long as he does not act upon them, is still a righteous man (non-practicing homosexuals for instance). Isn't the point of sin to KNOW that something is wrong and than not do it?

You can't control your thoughts or your first impressions of someone upon meeting them, I mean any guy can tell you if he moved into a new neighborhood and had a good looking neighbor, his first impression would probably be, "Wow..she is good looking..". Now, a friend of mine once told me this commandment only applied to planning out how one would take someone's wife but to me this is an unacceptable answer. I could plan to steal or plan to murder and than not do it and apparently still be right with the lord, why is this specific act different?

Oh and I know that the 7 Deadly Sins lists thought crimes as well, lust and wrath for example but these never appear in the bible but are purely teaching derived from humanity so I to do not find these acceptable as an answer. Plus, I have always seen them more as guidelines to keep yourself free from sin than sins in themselves.

 

[Chesterton]

After all the bible and Christians in general believe one can have immoral thoughts but as long as he does not act upon them, is still a righteous man (non-practicing homosexuals for instance).

I believe that's very incorrect. Jesus condemns immoral thoughts, and says if you lust after a woman in your heart it's as if you've committed adultery. It stands to reason too - our thoughts are basically what we are, and God knows these. Of course you're right that it's still better to just think about robbing a bank, than to think about it and also do it.

I could plan to steal or plan to murder and than not do it and apparently still be right with the lord, why is this specific act different?

I don't think planning sin is alright with the Lord.

Plus, I have always seen them more as guidelines to keep yourself free from sin than sins in themselves.

I think the Bible is clear that they are sins in themselves, and they are hard to control because of our sinful natures. But you are right that the commission would make it worse, so yes keeping our thoughts free from sin will help keep us free from committing sin.

 

[Demian]

I think the Bible is clear that they are sins in themselves, and they are hard to control because of our sinful natures. But you are right that the commission would make it worse, so yes keeping our thoughts free from sin will help keep us free from committing sin.

The 7 deadly sins never appear in the bible.

 

[drich0150]

The 7 deadly sins never appear in the bible.

No but the basic principle Chesterton was trying to communicate is.. That we are responsible for our thoughts as mentioned by Jesus in: Mat5:
Murder


21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. Adultery

27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

In a sense the "tenth commandment" was preparing the Jews for the time when Jesus would complete the Law.

Now as Paul has said the whole point of the Jesus "completing the law" is to make it impossible to earn you way to heaven or to earn righteousness before the Lord through your actions.. There by making it absolutely necessary to Have to have a savior. In a sense this frees from the law..

 

[salida]

Praying and asking the Holy Spirit with our thoughts and worshipping the Lord will help our thought process.

 

[Kothlis]

Isn't the point of sin to KNOW that something is wrong and than not do it?

Yes, we can be tempted (which isn't a sin in and of itself). It becomes a sin when we give into that temptation. For example, say that a pretty woman walks by - what do you do? The right thing to do is "bounce" your eyes away and not focus on her in your mind; you sin when you keep looking and toy with thoughts and desires in your head.

You can't control your thoughts or your first impressions of someone upon meeting them, I mean any guy can tell you if he moved into a new neighborhood and had a good looking neighbor, his first impression would probably be, "Wow..she is good looking..".

I don't think that merely thinking "She's hot" (i.e. stating the obvious) goes under the definition of coveting. If you desire or crave for her or toy with such desires in your mind, then that's something completely different.

I think here that God is addressing the core attitudes for these things as offenses like theft and adultery can be described generally in terms of the desire that triggered the chain of events. An illegitimate desire for something that belongs to someone else is the core of the problem and a threat to the community, not to mention the inner character damage done to the person (envy is a very destructive attitude). God wants our communities to be based on love for our neighbours, not envy.

In a sense God's saying, "Don't go there. Don't even toy with those thoughts" as He knows where they'll lead us. As my attempt at an analogy, it's one thing to tell a drug addict "not to steal," but perhaps a more thoughtful and useful thing to do is to get them off the drugs then they'll have no need to steal to support their expensive habit. When you remove that underlying cause, then it's unlikely that they'll continue to go down the line of doing stealing. Similarly, if you caution (issue commands) against the underlying thoughts (lust, envy, etc.) that lead to actions that negatively affect other people - such as adultery, theft, and murder - then it's less likely that people will be brought to edge of those crimes.

That's my understanding anyways.

 

[A New Dawn]

The 10th commandment covers a lot of area. Here is the actual wording.

17 You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.

This seems more to be speaking about being happy with what you have. If all you do is compare what you have to what others have, you will never be happy. You know, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Keeping up with the Joneses. Satisfaction is never attained when your eyes are set on material wealth. It's a never-ending vicious cycle.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Demian. The Bible is God`s Word to Man, and the more we study it, the better we understand it. Re. the 10 Commandments. God has given them to us because He loves us, and if we follow them we will have rewards, and if we ignore them, or go against them, we will pay the consequences. It is God`s Holy Law and will stand forever. Jesus made it easier for us to understand, He gave us 2 Commandments, which contain all 10 Commandments, which God gave us. 1) Love God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds. That is as it should be, Demian. God is our Creator, He made us in His image and He loves us, like a Heavenly Father. 2) Love our neighbour, ( all others) as we love ourselves. That is easily said, but hard to live it. ( Think of it like: say and do to all we meet, as we would like others SAY AND DO to us.) Unless we try it sincerely, we will never know the benefits to us. Plus we have years to getbetter and better, and we have Jesus Christ to help and guide us. Thousands of Christians will, and can testify to this, myself included. I say this humbly and with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Demian. The Bible is God`s Word to Man, and the more we study it, the better we understand it. Re. the 10 Commandments. God has given them to us because He loves us, and if we follow them we will have rewards, and if we ignore them, or go against them, we will pay the consequences. It is God`s Holy Law and will stand forever. Jesus made it easier for us to understand, He gave us 2 Commandments, which contain all 10 Commandments, which God gave us. 1) Love God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds. That is as it should be, Demian. God is our Creator, He made us in His image and He loves us, like a Heavenly Father. 2) Love our neighbour, ( all others) as we love ourselves. That is easily said, but hard to live it. ( Think of it like: say and do to all we meet, as we would like others SAY AND DO to us.) Unless we try it sincerely, we will never know the benefits to us. Plus we have years to getbetter and better, and we have Jesus Christ to help and guide us. Thousands of Christians will, and can testify to this, myself included. I say this humbly and with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[Stinker]

The 7 deadly sins never appear in the bible.

7 things the Lord hates:


Proverbs 6:16-19 (King James Version)



16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.