The Tenth Commandment

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s. (Exodus 20:17, King James Version)

Sometimes the ninth and tenth commandments are combined, or sometimes people just don’t see the difference between the two. Here it is: the previous one deals with coveting another person’s things, while this one covers the living people and animals that other people have.

Luther’s Small Catechism describes this commandment this way: We are to fear and love God, so that we do not entice, force, or steal away from our neighbors their spouses, household workers, or livestock, but instead urge them to stay and fulfill their responsibilities to our neighbors.

Few of us have servants which we are worried about someone hiring away from us. And coveting our spouses seems to be covered in the sixth commandment. Some of us do own livestock or at least have chickens pecking around our yard providing us with eggs to eat.

In general, though, we live in different times. But, as with everything else written in the Bible, the words remain true for us today.

My mom once told a story about a beautiful, white, long-haired kitten she had as a young girl. Because it wasn’t suitable as a barn cat, Mom wanted it for a pet. She didn’t have it very long when some distant relative from the city came for a visit and saw the cat. He talked my grandpa into giving it to him. My mom says she hid the cat under the covers at the end of her bed, but they found it and took it away. Mom was understandably heartbroken. But on Grandpa’s behalf, it was the depression and there was no room in the budget for any animal on the farm which couldn’t pull its weight.   

I remember seeing a movie years ago with a similar plot-line and even an episode of the Waltons, involving a calf.

Working class families of previous generations, from Biblical times through the depression of the 1930s, had a hard time justifying having a pet around the house. They were more prone to fight to keep any human or animal labor and to covet their neighbors' workers and livestock. 

Today, we are blessed to have the easy life we do. And with that, many of us have pets that we love and would do anything for. And as long as we are taking proper care of our cats, dogs, and other household critters, no one should want to take them away from us.

Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. (Philippians 2:4, New Century Version)

 Assignment time! If you know of someone who has a pet that they love, but that they are struggling to keep for whatever reason, lend a hand – offer to walk their dog if they can’t get out themselves or buy them some pet food. If you don’t know anyone in that situation, volunteer at your local humane society. Do it not only for the animals, but for the many people involved in their care.