WLC 148

Q148. What are the sins forbidden in the tenth commandment?

The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate; envying and grieving at the good of our neighbor, together with all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.

Proof texts

• 1 Kings 21:4 — [4] 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.
• Esth. 5:13 — [13] Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.”
• 1 Cor. 10:10 — [10] nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
• Gal. 5:26 — [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
• Jas. 3:14,16 — [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
• Ps. 112:9-10 — [9] He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor. [10] The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!
• Neh. 2:10 — [10] But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
• Rom. 7:7-8 — [7] 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.” [8] But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
• Rom. 13:9 — [9] For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Col. 3:5 — [5] Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
• Deut. 5:21 — [21] “‘And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.’

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited 1 Kings 21:4 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 11 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