-
To gain dishonestly (batsa`), e.g. the King James Version Exodus 18:21;
Ezekiel 33:31.
-
The wish to have more than one possesses, inordinately, of course
(pleonexia), e.g. Luke 12:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:5.
-
An inordinate love of money philarguros, the King James Version Luke
16:14; 2 Timothy 3:2; philarguria, 1 Timothy 6:10; negative in Hebrews
13:5, the King James Version.
Covetousness is a very grave sin; indeed, so heinous is it that the Scriptures
class it among the very gravest and grossest crimes (Ephesians 5:3). In
Colossians 3:5 it is "idolatry," while in 1 Corinthians 6:10 it is set forth as
excluding a man from heaven. Its heinousness, doubtless, is accounted for by
its being in a very real sense the root of so many other forms of sin, e.g.
departure from the faith (1 Timothy 6:9,10); lying (2 Kings 5:22-25); theft
(Joshua 7:21); domestic trouble (Proverbs 15:27); murder (Ezekiel 22:12);
indeed, it leads to "many foolish and hurtful lusts" (1 Timothy 6:9).
Covetousness has always been a very serious menace to mankind, whether in
the Old Testament or New Testament period. It was one of the first sins that
broke out after Israel had entered into the promised land (Achan, Jos 7); and
also in the early Christian church immediately after its founding (Ananias and
Sapphira, Ac 5); hence, so many warnings against it. A careful reading of the
Old Testament will reveal the fact that a very great part of the Jewish law--such
as its enactments and regulations regarding duties toward the poor, toward
servants; concerning gleaning, usury, pledges, gold and silver taken during
war--was introduced and intended to counteract the spirit of covetousness.
Eerdmans maintains (Expos, July, 1909) that the commandment, "Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbor's house" (Exodus 20:17), meant to the Israelite that he
should not take anything of his neighbor's possessions that were momentarily
unprotected by their owner. Compare Exodus 34:23. Thus, it refers to a
category of acts that is not covered by the commandment, "Thou shalt not
steal." It is an oriental habit of mind from of old that when anyone sees
abandoned goods which he thinks desirable, there is not the least objection to
taking them, and Exodus 20:17 b is probably an explanation of what is to be
understood by "house" in Exodus 20:17 a.”10