1. Thou Shalt Not Covet! (Exodus 20:17)
North Battleford Study Weekend
Class 2
“Covet earnestly the best gifts”
1. This is one of four addresses.
2. A subject started 20 years ago.
3. Bible passages are all on slides.
4. Reading: Exodus 20

2. THE DEADLY SIN OF COVETOUSNESS
MEANING OF WORDS
Exodus 20:17
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
COVET: (English)
To desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others: to covet another’s property.
To wish for, esp. Eagerly.
Webster’s Universal College Dictionary
The English dictionary is someone helpful.
To really get at the idea behind the sin of covetousness we need to study the use of the Hebrew and Greek words.
THE DEADLY SIN OF COVETOUSNESS

3. GRK - NT 2206: zeloo (Good Sense)
COVET: (Greek)
NT:2206 zeloo (dzay-lo'-o) or zeleuo (dzay-loo'-o); from NT:2205; to have warmth of feeling for or against:
KJV - affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over, (be) zealous (-ly affect).
2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
1 Corinthians 12:30-31
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
There is no question that in this case coveting is promoted.
We have to reconcile this understanding with the usual idea behind coveting.
The basic idea behind this word is to manifest a zeal towards something.
In this case the Brethren were told to be zealous in their ability to serve the community.
- To have warmth of feeling for or against -

4. GRK - NT 2206: zeloo (Bad Sense)
Acts 17:5
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Zealousness in this sense must be suppressed.
Envy is a bad characteristic.
We must learn to retain control.
Zealousness associated with envy is destructive.
The feeling associated with zeal is sometimes better understood by the negative examples.
- To have warmth of feeling for or against -

5. GRK - NT 2206: zeloo (Good Sense)
Revelation 3:18-19
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
When we sense the rebuke of the Lord in our lives it is time to be zealous and make changes to our life.
The ecclesia had a very wrong view of material ‘blessings’ and needed to make a 180 degree change.
Rebuke and chastening is never a pleasant experience.
The warmth and passion associated with this experience is supposed to have the effect of repentance.
It is a powerful emotion.
Like in the discipline of children there is a small amount of time involved where it is effective.
Anything less than a zealous repentance hardly qualifies for the objective of discipline.
- To have warmth of feeling for or against -

6. GRK - NT 2206: zeloo (Bad & Good Sense)
The sense of zeloo is clearly brought out in this passage where the word is used three times.
Also the sense in which we must see the error of covetousness is also apparent in this passage.
It is not the feeling itself that is wrong, it is the application that makes it right or wrong!
Galatians 4: KJV
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
We probably already recognize the power of ‘zeal’ as an infectious agent within observers.
It can work for good or ill.
- To have warmth of feeling for or against -

7. GRK - NT 2206: zeloo (Bad & Good Sense)
Galatians 4:17-18 NIV
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you [from us], so that you may be zealous for them.
It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.
As much as it is pathetic to see a Brother who is lukewarm in fulfilling his commission, so it is refreshing to see a Brother go about his work in the Lord with a sense of zeal.
In this positive way we need to apply an upgrade to our spiritial activities.
The NIV makes the contrasts more apparent.
The words illustrate the idea – zeal alone is neither good or bad – we need to know the object of its action.
- To have warmth of feeling for or against -

8. SUMMARY - NT 2206: zeloo Reference Context Lexicon Acts 7:9
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into
2206
Acts 17:5
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took
1Cor 12:31
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you
1Cor 14:1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather
2Cor 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have
Gal 4:17
They zealously affect you, but not well: yea they would
Yea they would exclude you, that ye might affect them
Gal 4:18
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good
Jam 4:2
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot
Rev 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
Read this to get a good feel for the fact of how it is translated.
Note that it is translated ‘to covet’.

9. GRK-NT 1937: epithumeo (Bad Sense)
1 Corinthians 10:5-6
But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
COVET: (Greek)
NT:1937 epithumeo (ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o); from NT:1909 and NT:2372; to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise):
KJV - covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).
2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
The problem here is related to setting the heart upon something.
We would normally see this word as being a manifestation of wickedness.
- To set the heart upon -

10. GRK-NT 1937: epithumeo (Bad Sense)
Matthew 5:27-28
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
This context sets the standard for the intensity of the feelings associated with the desire.
In this case ‘setting the heart upon it’ is totally misdirected and wrong before our God.
Jesus’ use of this word illustrates the thinking and acting associated with this word.
It is very expressive of the way the mind works.
In many cases the act is accomplished in the mind long before the deed itself.
Setting the heart upon suggests premeditation and all that it involves.
- To set the heart upon -

11. GRK-NT 1937: epithumeo (Good Sense)
With desire NT 1939 ‘a longing’, I have desired NT 1937 ‘set my heart upon’.
This passage shows the intensity of the desire of the Lord to eat this passover with his disciples.
In this case ‘setting the heart upon it’ was totally proper and right before our God.
Luke 22:15-16
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
It is suprising to see this word used in this setting.
The Lord must have used it to suggest premeditation and way it had occupied his mind.
The sin therefore, is not that we set our heart upon something, or that our mind is capable of it.
The problem centres on what are we premeditating?
- To set the heart upon -

12. SUMMARY NT 1937: epithumeo Reference Context Lexicon Matt 5:28
That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
1937
Matt 13:17
Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those
Luke 22:15
And he said unto them, with desire I have desired to eat this
Acts 20:33
I have coveted no man`s silver, or gold, or apparel.
Rom 13:9
Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet;
1Cor 10:6
that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Gal 5:17
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
1Tim 3:1
If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good
James 4:2
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot
1Peter 1:12
Which things the angels desire to look into.
1. Look at the various ways in which this word is translated to see the point.
- To set the heart upon -

13. THE DEADLY SIN OF COVETOUSNESS
GAIN IS NOT GODLINESS
GAIN - NT:4200 porismos (por-is-mos'); from a derivative of poros (a way, i.e. means); furnishing (procuring), i.e. (by implication) money-getting (acquisition):
2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
1 Timothy 6:5
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
It has been said that God will bless you with more if you give. 2Cor. 9:7,8; Hag. 2:19
But this is saying that gain without any connection to God is godliness.
These are people with ‘corrupt minds’, ‘destitute of the truth’ – what do you expect from them?
We are obliged to separate ourselves from people who so behave.
This will be difficult to do for they may contribute a large amount of money to the working of the ecclesia.
1 Tim 6:4-5 NIV – “interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.”
The NIV throws a different like on this verse to suggest they were using godliness as a means of financial gain.
Milking the ecclesial members should never be done – one’s financial matters should not be an ecclesial matter. (farming)
THE DEADLY SIN OF COVETOUSNESS

14. GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT
1 Timothy 6:6-8
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
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.
Godliness does bring contentment.
That contentment is great gain.
The standard is having ‘food and raiment’.
The great gain that people are really seeking is to be found in godliness.
In 2Pe 1 this comes about through self-control and patience.
In some countries there would be little value in seeking for much more than food and raiment.
Take no anxious thought about this!
Seek the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added. – Luke 12:31 – This requires fundamental faith.
THE DEADLY SIN OF COVETOUSNESS

15. SUMMARY NT 4200: porismos Reference Context Lexicon 1Tim 6:5
Supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
4200
1Tim 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
These are the only occurrences of the word.
Once again the pattern is followed of using it in a good and bad sense.
- Acquisition -

16. GRK–NT 3713: oregomai (Bad Sense)
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
COVET: (Greek)
NT:3713 oregomai (or-eg'-om-ahee); middle voice of apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary [compare NT:3735]; to stretch oneself, i.e. reach out after (long for):
KJV - covet after, desire.
2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
Our imaginations can attach many meanings to the metaphor involved in ‘reaching out’ for something.
When it comes to money, most of us know a few examples of where this is bad, even destructive.
- To stretch, to reach after -

17. GRK–NT 3713: oregomai (Good Sense)
1 Timothy 3:1-2
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
It is advantageous to have some Brethren who honestly desire to be leaders and servants of the ecclesia.
The desire to do so must be in the light of the descriptors that follow.
Here is a sense of the word where we try to cultivate the practice.
We need Brethren to see this need and manifest the action.
- To stretch, to reach after -

18. GRK–NT 3713: oregomai (Good Sense)
Hebrews 11:15-16
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Some of us will fail in our discipleship by turning back to things we had decided to leave behind at our respective baptisms.
For others, the desire for a country better than that we find ourselves in now is a very strong and driving force in our life.
This is a very motivational aspect of covetous thoughts.
Those who understand the difference between worldly and heavenly wealth will always keep this in mind.
- To stretch, to reach after -

19. - To stretch, to reach after -
SUMMARY NT 3713: oregomai
Reference
Context
Lexicon
1Tim 3:1
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop
3713
1Tim 6:10
is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after
Heb 11:16
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly
These are the only occurrences of the word.
Once again the pattern is followed of using it in a good and bad sense.
- To stretch, to reach after -

20. HEB–OT 183: avah (Bad Sense)
MEANING OF WORDS
HEB–OT 183: avah (Bad Sense)
Psalm 106:12-14
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
COVET: (Hebrew)
OT:183 avah (aw-vaw'); a primitive root; to wish for:
KJV - covet, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after).
2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
To wish for something seems to be innocent enough.
This case is dealing with something they could remember which was better off forgotten.
Again, this is a battle of the mind – we can control of memories.
It shows the power of experience for ill in this case.
- To wish for -

21. HEB–OT 183: avah (Good Sense)
Psalm 132:13-14
For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
This kind of desire leads one to achieve it.
It can be right and proper if the object of the desire is right.
God wishes for Zion in the sense of what He knows it will be.
It illustrates a good sense of the desire.
- To wish for -

22. HEB–OT 183: avah (Good Sense)
Desire OT:8378 ta'avah (tah-av-aw'); from OT:183 (abbreviated); a longing; by implication, a delight (subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm):
‘have I desired’ OT:183 avah
In the way this word is used in Isaiah it is possible to long after our God.
This is right and proper and pleasing to God.
Isaiah 26:8-9
8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
This sense of ‘coveting’ is likely only ever been experienced by a few.
It involves a knowledge and understanding of the ‘way’ of God.
It also involves faith in the promises of God to bring it all to pass.
- To wish for -

23. SUMMARY OT 183: avah Reference Context Lexicon Num 11:4
And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting
183
Deut 12:20
And thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth
2Sam 23:15
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me
Psa 45:11
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord
Psa 106:14
But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God
Psa 132:13
For YHWH hath desired Zion; he hath desired it for his
Prov 21:26
He coveteth greedily all the day long: the but righteous
Eccl 6:2
So he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth,
Amos 5:18
Woe unto you that desire the day of YHWH! To what end is
Micah 7:1
There is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit
Again this picture of the variety of uses illustrates the latitude of the word.
We must be careful not to pick up on just one side of the meanings.
Again, the word itself does not imply good or bad.
- To wish for -

24. COVETOUSNESS - REVIEW
1 God says to us, “I will never fail you, nor forsake you”.
2 He expects therefore, that in the light of His promise we will be content with the essentials of life.
3 Covetousness involves strong desire .
4 Bad memories can be the source of covetousness.
5 The process involves seeing, delighting in and thereby being enticed into committing sin.
6 Sharing our lives with good friends (spiritually) will help us keep better track of any covetous behaviour.
7 We need to exercise the intensity of covetousness in a good sense.
8 We must learn to be zealous for the Truth.
9 We need to reach out to do the things that are needful in ecclesial life and that please our Heavenly Father.
10 Being fervent in spirit and talking up the coming Kingdom will help energize our families and our whole ecclesia.
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