October 31 – LD 44, Day 3: Called to Perfect Holiness
by Pastor Steven Key
1 Peter 1:15-16: “But
as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in
all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
The positive calling of
the tenth commandment is set forth in I Pet 1:15-16, where the inspired apostle
repeats the Word of God as set forth in the Old Testament in the last part of
Leviticus 11. The apostle sets forth the call to holiness in contrast to that
way of life which characterizes us by nature. In contrast to that lust which is
the expression of covetousness, we are to be holy, as God is holy.
As we consider the tenth
commandment, we must understand that the law does not merely forbid us from wanting
things that we do not have. That, in itself, is not necessarily wrong. We are
commanded by Scripture in I Cor 12:31, e.g., to “covet
earnestly the best gifts”. There are proper desires, virtuous desires, as
well as the natural, in-created desires for food and drink.
What the tenth
commandment forbids is unlawful desiring,
that is, wanting anything apart from God, or contrary to His will. That
is why Exo 20:17 speaks of those things that God has
given to the neighbour, and not to us. That is the
perspective as well in I Tim 6:8 and following, where we are called to
contentment, having food and raiment.
Covetousness is
essentially idolatry. Thus the tenth commandment ties us back to the first. We
have gone full circle! Whoso violates even the least of these commandments,
violates them all (Jam 2:10)! The first commandment, forbidding idolatry, is
directed first to our outward life of worship and confession, and only then
reaches into the idolatry of the heart. But the tenth commandment touches
especially our hearts’ desires in relation to the world and the things of this
world. Covetousness, therefore, is principally the same as idolatry of the
heart. In fact, Scripture sometimes identifies the two together (Eph 5:5,