The Ten Commandments: The Ninth and Tenth Commandments Introduction: Today we are going to finish up with our study on the Ten Commandments. We’ll combine the 9th and 10th Commandments because these two deal with a sin called coveting. Anyone know what “coveting” means? Take a couple guesses. My guess is that you came up empty. Don’t feel bad about that. We really don’t use the word covet anymore, but don’t let that make you think these two commandments are hardly important. One could argue that next to the first three commandments, these two are the most important. In fact, these two commandments get to the reason why sinners can’t keep any of the other commandments. Since the 9th and 10th commandments are so important, let’s define what “covet” means. Covet – To want something you shouldn’t have. (See Psalm 10:2-3 and James 4:2) Unlike the other commandments which deal with our actions, these last two deal with our desires. In these two commandments, in other words, God is placing demands on how you think and feel. Why do you think God cares how you think about things and feel? See the following two passages: - Matthew 15:18-20a - Jeremiah 17:9-10a Before we go any further, let’s review the 10 Commandments: (See PowerPoint Slide 2) 1 Question: Where can we find the 10 Commandments? In the Bible. Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 2 Question: Name as many commands as you can: 1) No other gods; 2) Use God’s name correctly; 3) Remember the Sabbath; 4) Honor mom and dad; 5) Don’t murder; 6) Don’t commit adultery; 7) Don’t steal; 8) Don’t bear false witness; 9-10) Don’t covet. 3 Question: What are your favorite commandments? (See above) 4 Question: What are commandments 9-10? The coveting commandments.

Always Remember: One last time, let’s recall something about God’s rules that he gives us in the 10 Commandments. Remember that for young people, as well as old people, a list of rules might not sound like a lot of fun, but rules are important. Rules are made simply to keep us safe and happy. Always keep that in mind when you think of God giving you his commandments. His commandments are like a safe or a safety box. He gave them with a purpose to keep us safe and some pretty important other things protected, so that you can be the happiest you can possibly be. The Ninth and Tenth Commandments, for example, deal with protecting your heart from leading you astray into a life of sin and a life apart from God for eternity! Could you imagine what this world would be like if God didn’t give the command to guard your heart from evil – wanting anything you shouldn’t have? 5 Question: Can you remember the main reason why the commandments were given to you and me? (See Romans 3:20) See Romans 3:20; God gave the commandments first and foremost to be a mirror to show us how sinful we are and to show us our desperate need for a Savior. He did not give them, as many people believe, to show us how to be good or earn heaven. By nature, we can’t be perfect as he demands nor earn salvation.) Questions concerning the 9th and 10th Commandments: A. You go into a bank with a gun to get a million dollars and you get arrested. You broke the 7th Commandment and now you’ll have to go to jail, right? But what happens to you when you go into a bank and you just begin to think of how awesome it would be to take a million dollars? Will anyone arrest you? Why or why not? No one will arrest you. However, God will charge you with sin and you will have to answer for that. Thanks be to Jesus who is able to forgive us. Illustration: In 1 Kings 21 we read about an evil king Ahab who wanted his neighbor’s vineyard. Naboth was the man’s name. Now, it was okay for Ahab to want the vineyard, and it was okay for him to offer to purchase it, but when Naboth refused no matter what the price was, Ahab should have no longer desired that man’s vineyard. It was no longer okay to want it. But Ahab kept wanting it and that’s why he killed Naboth, just so he could have what he shouldn’t have had. See what coveting can lead to? B. You ask your parents if you can go to a friend’s house Friday night and play some video games. Your mom and dad say, “Sorry, not this Friday. You’ve got a busy day on Saturday and need your rest.” It’s okay for you to want to go, it’d okay to ask, but when your parents say, “No,” it’s no longer okay to continue to want to do that. Why? What bad behavior can follow if you still want to go, though your parents said, “No?” Answers will vary. But the truth of the matter is easy. Evil thoughts lead us into evil actions. C. Why do we covet? (Why do we often want what we should not have?) (See Genesis 8:21 and Psalm 51:5) This is all due to our sinful nature. We all were born to be sinful because Adam and Eve who gave birth to the rest of the human race passed on their sinfulness. This is what is called original sin. Illustration: Our sinful nature is a lot like a terrorist force inside a country. Just like a terrorist group constantly tries to overthrow the ruler or other countries in the world, our sinful natures (sinful hearts) want to overthrow Jesus from ruling over us. As Christians, we should see that we will constantly have to fight against our sinful nature with the Spirit’s power.

D. What do we deserve because of our sinful thoughts and desires? (See Mt 5:29 and 1John 3:15). We deserve to be condemned and live apart from God forever.

E. Since we are new creations in Jesus, righteous and able to do good works for the right reasons, and since we still have a sinful nature that desires to destroy us, what do you suggest we do? (See Galatians 5:24-25; 1 Timothy 4:16). We should continue to fight our sinful desires and learn more from God’s Word to protect ourselves. Exercises on the Commandments:

A: Which of the following commandments are people breaking below? Name at least 2 for each… 1) Jack does not want to obey Jesus anymore. So, he lives his own way. – Commandments (1 and 9-10) 2) Jill spoke poorly about her friend and wanted everyone to hate her. – Commandments (8 and 9-10) 3) Jonathan doesn’t want to go to church anymore. So he sleeps in. – Commandments (3 and 9-10) 4) Jerry was so mad at his friend that he wanted to punch him and did! – Commandments (5 and 9-10) 5) Tom wanted to stay up past bedtime and snuck downstairs to play. – Commandments (4 and 9-10) 6) Betty stole a candy bar from the checkout because she wanted it. – Commandments (7 and 9-10) 7) Monica did not love her husband anymore and wanted a divorce. – Commandments (6 and 9-10)

B: With every commandment we mentioned God wants to protect important things. Can you sum up what God wants to protect in each commandment below?

- You shall have no other gods. – His honor/glory as the only saving God. - You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. – His reputation as the saving God. - Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. – Time to learn of his salvation in his Word - Honor your father and mother that you might have long life. – Parents - You shall not murder. – Life - You shall not commit adultery. – Marriage - You shall not steal. – Possessions - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. – Good Name / Reputation - You shall not covet. – Our Hearts

NOTE: Some churches count the commandments in different ways. Some state the first four commandments deal with our relationship to God while we say the first three do. The reason is that in the Hebrew Old Testament there are actually only 9 Commandments and one thought which goes before the commands. The section is entitle 10 Words. And the first word is not a commandment but a statement that God has set his people free and is the only true saving God. As a result, we should thankfully want to do what he wants – 9 commands are given.

Jesus and the 10 Commandments: All along we have mentioned that Jesus was born to keep the 10 Commandments for us. Once he had earned perfection as a man, he gave that perfection to us that we might be seen as holy before God and live. Then, Jesus died to take away the punishment for our sins. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21). (PowerPoint Slide 4)

Last question: How did Jesus keep the 9th and 10th commandments for us?… (See Psalm 40:7-8) He craved in his heart a desire to please God by providing the benefit of eternal life for all. That was his desire all the time and he acted on it perfectly. He never desired anything he shouldn’t have.

--- Homework: Keep track of your thoughts this week. How often do you want something that you should not want? How often does your heart try to get you to break one of the 10 Commandments? Remember especially that God forgives you and loves you. Then, out of love for Jesus ask God to make your heart want more of what God wants and less of sin.

Memorize: - You shall have no other gods. - You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. - Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. - Honor your father and mother that you might have long life. - You shall not murder. - You shall not commit adultery. - You shall not steal. - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. - You shall not covet.