According to God´s word, what kind of a heart are we to have?

We are to have a clean heart, so that we have only a clean, holy desire and zeal for all that God wants.

Matt. 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Lev. 19:2: Ye shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

1 Sam. 16:7: The Lord looketh on the heart.

What does God require of us in these Commandments?

God requires that we be content with the circumstances into which He has placed us. He requires that we faithfully help our neighbor and encourage everyone to remain firmly in that place and to serve in that calling which God has provided for him.

1 Tim. 6:6: Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Luke 16:10: He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much.

Matt. 25:21: Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things.

Phil. 2:4: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Assignment: Read Gen. 1:39: Joseph demanded that Potifar’s wife remain faithful to her husband. The Epistle to Philemon: Paul returned a runaway slave to his master. Discuss: Is it permissible to change one’s place of employment and to improve one’s unfavorable circumstances? Is it right for an employer to dismiss faithful older employees and hire new ones?

What forms of coveting does God forbid in these Commandments?

God forbids us to

1. Greedily try to get our neighbor’s inheritance or other means of livlihood through fraudulent methods or by a show of right.
   
   Assignment: Read Gen. 31:7: Laban deceived Jacob, 1 Kings 21: Ahab and Jezebel seized Naboth’s vineyard for themselves by misapplying the law, and Matt. 23:14: the Pharisees took widow’s possessions for themselves.



2. Persuade, incite or force our neighbor’s spouse or employee to leave him and come to us, or try to get some other advantages or benefits enjoyed by our neighbor for ourselves.
   
   Assignment: Read 2 Sam. 11:1-4: David seduced Bathseba, and 2 Sam. 15:1-6: Absalom estranged the hearts of the people away from David.



3. Envy, and hunger for that which belongs to our neighbor.
   
   

   Luke 12:15: Take heed, and beware of covetousness.

Luther: “These commandments are especially directed against envy and miserable avarice, God wishing to remove all causes and sources whence arises everything by which we do injury to our neighbor.”

Assignment: Discuss what advantages and circumstances of others are coveted today?

What is coveting?

Coveting is desiring, longing and hoping for anything that God in His Word has forbidden us to have. These sins of the heart are already condemning sins in themselves, even though they have not yet resulted in deeds. But that which God has not forbidden, is not sinful.

Gal. 5:17: The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.

Rom. 7:7: I had not known sin but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said: Thou shalt not covet.

James 1:14-15: Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

What does God forbid in these Commandments?

God forbids us to be dissatisfied with what He has given us, and with what He expects of us. He also forbids us to covet that, which does not belong to us according to His will, and which we cannot get without acting against it.

1 Tim. 6:7-9: For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

What does God protect in the Ninth and Tenth Commandments?

Ninth Commandment: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house, nor obtain it by a show of right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it. Tenth Commandment. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away from our neighbor his wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and do their duty.

In the Ninth and Tenth Commandments God protects the advantages and the living conditions that our neighbor has in this life according to God’s plan.