Deuteronomy 5:21, commentary and pictures

It forbids inward desire for another person's spouse and for anything that belongs to a neighbor, including home, land, servants, livestock, and every other possession. It stands as one of the Ten Commandments, belonging to the last six that define duty toward fellow human beings. It is a definite and plain expression of God's will that requires perfect obedience and sanctification of mind, soul, and body, with no excuse accepted for disobedience. Keeping it brings life, wisdom, and blessing, while breaking it brings sure consequences and loss of blessing. It remains binding in every age, calling God's people to study it, practice it, and walk in consecrated service as a holy people unto Him.

Wording and Historical Setting

The command forbids desiring a neighbor's wife and coveting a neighbor's house, field, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass, or anything at all that belongs to a neighbor. It stands as part of the Ten Commandments, the decalogue, which Moses was instructed to repeat. Within that ten it belongs to the last six commandments, which define a person's duties toward other people.

The law had first been spoken from Sinai and was recapitulated by Moses to Israel at the Jordan when the appointed time to possess Canaan was at hand, so that the generation entering Canaan would understand the need to obey it. Few of that present generation had been old enough to comprehend the solemnity of the first giving, so God had the claims of His law set before them again before they passed over Jordan to take the promised land, with obedience enjoined as the condition of prosperity there. That repetition was made in solemn assembly to the whole encampment after Israel had failed to fulfill the solemn covenant made at Horeb, and in mercy God did not destroy Israel but gave another opportunity to obey.

Moses called all Israel to hear, learn, keep, and do the statutes and judgments belonging to the covenant the Lord made with them in Horeb. The Lord had spoken them face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire and fiery cloud, as the God who brought them out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage. The covenant was made not with their fathers but with them alive that day, recalling their pledge to govern all words and actions by His law, to give special attention to their eternal welfare, and to be set apart to God.

Divine Requirement and Present Obedience

This command is a definite, clear expression of God's will and requirement, given among His directions ranging from the greatest to what may seem least, to be kept without alteration and carefully observed. As part of His holy commandments it requires perfect obedience and the sanctification of mind, soul, and body, with no excuse accepted for disobeying it, as His people walk in His ways and fear Him. It calls for full surrender at the beginning and continuing simplicity of obedience to all His special directions, with none of the important things specified in His Word neglected.

Obedience brings life, wisdom, blessing, and the Lord's co-operation, while transgression brings its sure consequences, a curse upon the earth, animals, and human beings, and loss of blessing. Minds clouded by unbelief fail to reverence God and obey, and many who profess to serve Him refuse its precepts. Its prohibition is a requirement and caution for people in every age to study and put into practice, with the commandments making the right path plain and shielding from temptation. They call God's people to live in consecrated service, explain why they are identified as His people, and show what He required that they might be a holy people unto Himself.

Breaking a commandment is a violation of God's law, and violating the laws governing the body is equally sinful. The chapters of Deuteronomy 4-8, to which this command belongs, are to be studied with profit now because the day of God's great final review is near, when the world must stand before the Judge of all the earth to answer for deeds. The present is the time of investigation, before every character has been investigated and every case decided for eternity.

The command is to be read to the people and read carefully, with its charge regarded. Every soul is to search the Scriptures for himself, make the Word the study book and doing it the special interest lest he be found in rebellion, and daily sanctification of the soul according to it glorifies the Lord through the obedient. Parents are to read and practice the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Deuteronomy in training children from infancy to form characters that meet God's approval. They are to take every precaution to prevent objectionable traits, control themselves for the sake of Creator and Redeemer, and prepare for the present and future life so they will be admitted into the city of God.