Reference: Covetousness
Easton
a strong desire after the possession of worldly things (Col 3:5; Eph 5:5; Heb 13:5; 1Ti 6:9-10; Mt 6:20). It assumes sometimes the more aggravated form of avarice, which is the mark of cold-hearted worldliness.
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But gather ye treasures together in heaven, where neither rust, nor yet moths corrupt: and where thieves neither break up, nor yet steal.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, either unclean person, or covetous person, which is the worshipper of images, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God.
Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is worshipping of idols:
Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with that ye have already. For he verily said, "I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee."
Hastings
In the Bible, covetousness is a crime. In the Ten Commandments it is put under the ban along with murder, adultery, theft, and slander (Ex 20:17; De 5:21). Achan was guilty of this crime, and was stoned to death (Jos 7:16-26). Every occurrence of the word or the thing in the OT is connected with a prohibition or a curse (Ps 10:3; 119:36; Pr 21:26; 28:16; Isa 57:17; Hab 2:9). In the NT adultery and covetousness are usually classed together (1Co 5:11; 6:9-10; Col 3:5; 2Pe 2:14). This conjunction of sensual sin and love of money probably rests upon the authority of Jesus (Mr 7:21-22). Jesus and the Apostles declared that the worshipper of Bacchus and the worshipper of Venus and the worshipper of Mammon belong to one and the same class. Grasping avarice is as incompatible with the spirit of self-sacrifice taught in the NT as is the selfish indulgence in drink or the grosser indulgence in vice. The Bible puts the covetous man in the same category with the murderer and the thief. The Christian Church needs to study anew the Bible teaching concerning covetousness, as found in Jer 22:17; Mic 2:2; Lu 12:15; Ro 7:7; Eph 5:3,6; 1Ti 6:10; Heb 13:5, and other passages. No covetous man has any inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
D. A. Hayes.
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"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house: neither shalt covet thy neighbor's wife, his manservant, his maid, his ox, his ass or ought that is his."
'Thou shalt not lust after thy neighbour's wife: thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, field, servant, maid, ox, ass nor ought that is thy neighbour's.'
And so Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes: and the tribe of Judah was caught. Then he brought the kindreds of Judah, and found the kindred of the Zerahites guilty. read more. And he brought the kindred of the Zerahites by householders, and Zabdi was caught. And he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah in the tribe of Judah was caught. And Joshua said unto Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and give him praise, and show me what thou hast done, and hide it not from me." And Achan answered Joshua, and said, "Of a truth I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and so and so have I done. I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundredth sicles of silver, and a tongue of gold of fifty sicles weight: and I coveted them, and I took them. And behold they lie hid in the earth in my tent and the silver thereunder." And then Joshua sent messengers which ran unto the tent. And behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver thereunder. And they took them out of the midst of his tent and brought them unto Joshua and unto all the children of Israel, and poured them out before the LORD. And Joshua took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the tongue of gold, and his sons and his daughters, his oxen, asses, sheep, his tent and all that he had, and all Israel with him, and brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, "Inasmuch as thou hast troubled us: the LORD shall trouble thee this day." And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burnt them with fire, and overwhelmed them with stones. And they cast upon him a great heap of stones that remaineth unto this day. And so the LORD turned from his fierce wrath. Wherefore the name of the place is called the valley of Achor unto this day.
For the ungodly hath made boast of his own heart's desire, and speaketh good of the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
He coveteth and desireth all the day long; but the righteous is always giving and keepeth nothing back.
Where the prince is without understanding, there is great oppression and wrong; but if he be such one as hateth covetousness, he shall long reign.
I am wroth with him for his covetousness and lust, I smite him, I hide me, and am angry, when he turneth himself, and followeth the byway of his own heart.
Nevertheless, as for thine eyes and thine heart, they look upon covetousness, to shed innocent blood, and to do wrong and violence.'"
When they covet to have land, they take it by violence; they rob men of their houses. Thus they oppress a man for his house, and every man for his heritage.
Woe unto him, that covetously gathereth evil gotten goods into his house: that he may set his nest on high, to escape from the power of misfortune.
For from within even out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts: adultery, fornication, murder, theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, uncleanness, and a wicked eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Wherefore he said unto them, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness. For no man's life standeth in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid: but I knew not what sin meant but by the law. For I had not known what lust had meant, except the law had said, "Thou shalt not lust."
but now I write unto you that ye company not together. If any that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or a worshipper of images, either a railer, either a drunkard, or an extortioner: with him that is such see that ye eat not.
Do ye not remember how that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. For neither fornicators, neither worshippers of images, neither whoremongers, neither weaklings, neither abusers of themselves with mankind, neither thieves, neither the covetous, neither drunkards, neither cursed speakers, neither extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.
So that fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, be not once named among you, as it becometh saints:
Let no man deceive you with vain words. For through such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of unbelief.
Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is worshipping of idols:
Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with that ye have already. For he verily said, "I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee."