What the Bible Says about the Tenth Command-- Do Not Covet

Don't desire what isn't yours
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

 Exodus 20:17

Don't take idolatrous things

The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

 Deuteronomy 7:25

Demanding Better Food

He split the rocks in the wilderness

And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths.

 He brought forth streams also from the rock

And caused waters to run down like rivers.

 Yet they still continued to sin against Him,

To rebel against the Most High in the desert.

 And in their heart they put God to the test

By asking food according to their desire.

 Then they spoke against God;

They said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

 “Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out,

 And streams were overflowing;

Can He give bread also?

Will He provide meat for His people?"

Therefore the LORD heard and was full of wrath;

And a fire was kindled against Jacob

And anger also mounted against Israel,

Because they did not believe in God

And did not trust in His salvation.

Yet He commanded the clouds above

And opened the doors of heaven;

He rained down manna upon them to eat

And gave them food from heaven.

Man did eat the bread of angels;

He sent them food in abundance.

He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens

And by His power He directed the south wind.

When He rained meat upon them like the dust,

Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas,

Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp,

Round about their dwellings.

So they ate and were well filled,

And their desire He gave to them.

Before they had satisfied their desire,

While their food was in their mouths,

The anger of God rose against them

And killed some of their stoutest ones,

And subdued the choice men of Israel.

 Psalm 78:15-31

You lust and so do not have

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

 James 4:1-4

Looking with desire is an action

You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

 Matthew 5:27-28

The covetous will not enter God's kingdom

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

 Ephesians 5:5

Stay away from covetous brothers

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-- not even to eat with such a one.

 I Corinthians 5:9-11

Flee from lust

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

 II Timothy 2:22

I desire nothing but You

Whom have I in heaven but You?

And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26

Warning against all kinds of greed
Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.
Luke 12:15