Outline

 

1. Sin Forbidden

2. Called Idolatry

3. Characteristics

a. Insatiable

b. Root of Evil

c. Oppression

4. Warnings Against

5. Reproved and Punished

 

1. Sin Forbidden

 

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. (Exodus 20:17)

 

2. Called Idolatry

 

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:5)

 

3. Charactristics

 

a.     Insatiable

 

He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. (Proverbs 21:26)

 

b. Root of Evil

 

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. (1 Timothy 6:10)

 

c. Oppression

 

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches, and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want. (Proverbs 22:16)

 

In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 22:12)

 

Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. (Nehemiah 5:7)

 

4. Warnings Against

 

 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. (Psalms 119:36)

 

 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15)

 

 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5)

 

5. Reproved and Punished

 

 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. (Joshua 7:21)

 

22 And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. 27  The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow. (2 Kings 5)