WLC 147

Q147. What are the duties required in the tenth commandment?

The duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our own condition, and such a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our neighbor, as that all our inward motions and affections touching him, tend unto, and further all that good which is his.

Proof texts

• Heb. 13:5 — [5] 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.”
• 1 Tim. 6:6 — [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain,
• Job 31:29 — [29] “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him
• Ps. 122:7-9 — [7] Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” [8] For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” [9] For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.
• 1 Tim. 1:5 — [5] The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
• Esth. 10:3 — [3] For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.
• 1 Cor. 13:4-7 — [4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Heb. 13:5 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 7 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q45 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. HC Q92 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q45 · HC Q92