19 Bible Verses about Coveting, prohibition of

What are we to say, then? That Law and sin are the same thing? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, I should not have learned what sin is, had not it been for Law. If the Law did not say 'Thou shalt not covet,' I should not know what it is to covet. But sin took advantage of the Commandment to arouse in me every form of covetousness, for where there is no consciousness of Law sin shows no sign of life.

The commandments, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet,' and whatever other commandment there is, are all summed up in the words--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.' Love never wrongs a neighbor. Therefore Love fully satisfies the Law.

Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

And then he added: "Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man's true Life does not depend on what he has."

On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him: "Who is really the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said: "I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all.

They came to Capernaum. When Jesus had gone into the house, he asked them: "What were you discussing on the way?" But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said: "If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all."

A discussion arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest; And Jesus, knowing of the discussion that was occupying their thoughts, took hold of a little child, and placed it beside him, And then said to them: "Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even this little child is welcoming me; and any one who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger. For whoever is lowliest among you all--that man is great."

Do not you know that wrong-doers will have no share in God's Kingdom? Do not be deceived. No one who is immoral, or an idolater, or an adulterer, or licentious, or a sodomite, Or a thief, or covetous, or a drunkard, or abusive, or grasping, will have any share in God's Kingdom.

"Ananias," Peter exclaimed, "how is it that Satan has so taken possession of your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit, and kept back a part of the money paid for the land? While it was unsold, was not it your own? and after it was sold, was not the money at your own disposal? How did you come to think of such a thing? You have lied, not to men, but to God!" As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and every one who heard of it was appalled.read more.
The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. "Is it true," Peter asked, addressing her, "that you sold your land for such a sum?" "Yes," she answered, "we did." Then Peter said: "How did you come to agree to provoke the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The foot-steps of those who have buried your husband are at the door; and they will carry you out too." Instantly Sapphira fell down at Peter's feet and expired. On coming in, the young men found her dead; so they carried her out and buried her by her husband's side.

Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring. When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God's Message, they sent Peter and John to them; And they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.read more.
(As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the Apostles' hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said: "Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit." "A curse upon you and upon your money," Peter exclaimed, "for thinking that God's free gift can be bought with gold! You have no share or part in our Message, for your 'heart is not right with God.' Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought; For I see that you have fallen into the 'bitterness of envy' and the 'fetters of sin.'"

I have never coveted any one's gold or silver or clothing.

If others share in this right over you, do not we even more? Still we did not avail ourselves of this right. No, we endure anything rather than impede the progress of the Good News of the Christ.

Make room for us in your hearts. In no instance have we ever wronged, or harmed, or taken advantage of, any one.

And, when I was with you in need, I did not become a burden to any of you; for our Brothers, on coming from Macedonia, supplied my needs. I kept myself, and will keep myself from being an expense to you in any way.

Remember, this is the third time that I have made every preparation to come to see you, and I shall refuse to be a burden to you; I want, not your money, but you. It is not the duty of children to put by for their parents, but of parents to put by for their children. For my part, I will most gladly spend, and be spent, for your welfare. Can it be that the more intensely I love you the less I am to be loved? You will admit that I was not a burden to you but you say that I was "crafty" and caught you "by a trick"!read more.
Do you assert that I took advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you? I urged Titus to go, and I sent our Brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did not we live in the same Spirit, and tread in the same footsteps?

Never at any time, as you know, did we use the language of flattery, or make false professions in order to hide selfish aims. God will bear witness to that.

Strive for the greater gifts. Yet I can still show you a way beyond all comparison the best.

Seek this Love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.

How true is that saying! When a man aspires to be a Presiding-Officer in the Church, he is ambitious for a noble task.