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 lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where theives do not break through, nor steal;
For this ye know, assuredly, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
Make dead, therefore, your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which, indeed, is idolatry;
Let your disposition be without fondness for money; content with the present things; for He Himself hath said, "I will in nowise leave you, neither will I in any wise forsake you."
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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For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, wantonness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
And He said to them, "Take heed, and guard yourselves from all covetousness; because one's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses."
What, then, shall we say? Is the law sin? It could not be! But I had not known sin, except through law; for I would not know even coveting, if the law did not say, "You shall not covet;"
but, as it is, I wrote not to keep company, if anyone, called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner??ith such a one, not even to eat.
Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becomes saints;
Let no one deceive you with empty words; for, because of these things, comes the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
Make dead, therefore, your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which, indeed, is idolatry;
Let your disposition be without fondness for money; content with the present things; for He Himself hath said, "I will in nowise leave you, neither will I in any wise forsake you."