Purity of Heart: The Essence of the Tenth Commandment
Summary
The tenth commandment, "You shall not covet," serves as a profound key to understanding the entirety of the Ten Commandments. Unlike the other commandments, which focus on visible actions, the tenth commandment delves into the hidden attitudes of the heart. This commandment reveals that God's concern has always been with the purity of our hearts, not just our outward actions. This understanding challenges the misconception that the Old Testament is solely about external conformity, while the New Testament focuses on internal attitudes. The tenth commandment shows that God has always called us to purity of heart, a truth that Jesus emphasized in the Sermon on the Mount.
The tenth commandment is particularly significant for morally upright individuals who may struggle to see their need for a Savior. It reveals that even those who live good, moral lives are sinners in need of redemption. The story of the Rich Young Ruler illustrates this point. Despite his adherence to the commandments, Jesus exposed the selfishness of his heart, showing that moral actions alone are insufficient. Similarly, the Apostle Paul, who once considered himself faultless under the law, came to realize his sinfulness through the tenth commandment. This realization led him to a deeper understanding of his need for Christ.
The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. Sin is not merely about actions but is rooted in the heart's desires. Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones emphasized that sins are symptoms of the deeper disease of sin. True transformation requires addressing the heart, not just modifying behavior. King David's plea for a pure heart in Psalm 51 exemplifies this need for inner change.
The tenth commandment also offers hope for a new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. God's commands are promises fulfilled through Jesus Christ. The realization of our spiritual deadness opens the door to resurrection and new life. Christ offers more than behavior modification; He offers a change of heart. By embracing Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a life reflecting God's character. Though we may not achieve perfect obedience, we begin to live according to God's commandments, experiencing the beginnings of purity, peace, and contentment.
Key Takeaways:
- The tenth commandment reveals that God's concern has always been with the purity of our hearts, not just our outward actions. This understanding challenges the misconception that the Old Testament is solely about external conformity, while the New Testament focuses on internal attitudes. [03:20]
- The tenth commandment is particularly significant for morally upright individuals who may struggle to see their need for a Savior. It reveals that even those who live good, moral lives are sinners in need of redemption. [06:12]
- The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. Sin is not merely about actions but is rooted in the heart's desires. True transformation requires addressing the heart, not just modifying behavior. [24:51]
- The tenth commandment offers hope for a new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. God's commands are promises fulfilled through Jesus Christ. The realization of our spiritual deadness opens the door to resurrection and new life. [31:05]
- By embracing Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a life reflecting God's character. Though we may not achieve perfect obedience, we begin to live according to God's commandments, experiencing the beginnings of purity, peace, and contentment. [35:16]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Introduction to the Tenth Commandment
- [01:00] - The Unique Nature of the Tenth Commandment
- [02:08] - Old Testament and New Testament Continuity
- [03:20] - Understanding the Commandments
- [05:06] - The Call to Purity of Heart
- [06:12] - Morally Upright People and the Need for a Savior
- [09:00] - The Rich Young Ruler's Story
- [12:01] - Jesus' Challenge to the Rich Young Ruler
- [16:02] - The Peer and Fear Factors
- [19:10] - Apostle Paul's Realization
- [24:51] - The Heart of the Problem
- [29:11] - King David's Plea for a Pure Heart
- [31:05] - Hope for a New Life
- [35:16] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 20:17
2. Luke 18:18-23
3. Romans 7:7-9
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Observation Questions:
1. What is unique about the tenth commandment compared to the other nine commandments? How does it focus on the heart rather than visible actions? [01:12]
2. In the story of the Rich Young Ruler, what specific commandment did Jesus highlight to reveal the man's heart condition? [13:25]
3. How did the Apostle Paul describe his realization of sin through the tenth commandment in Romans 7? What was his initial perception of himself before this realization? [19:44]
4. According to the sermon, what are the "peer factor" and "fear factor," and how do they relate to moral behavior? [16:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the tenth commandment challenge the misconception that the Old Testament is only about external actions while the New Testament focuses on internal attitudes? [02:08]
2. Why might morally upright individuals struggle to see their need for a Savior, according to the sermon? How does the tenth commandment address this issue? [06:12]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true transformation requires addressing the heart rather than just modifying behavior? How does this relate to King David's plea in Psalm 51? [29:11]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in helping believers live a life reflecting God's character? What does this mean for achieving purity, peace, and contentment? [35:16]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you focus more on outward actions rather than the attitudes of your heart? How can you begin to address these heart issues this week? [01:28]
2. Consider the story of the Rich Young Ruler. Is there something in your life that you hold onto that might reveal a deeper heart issue? What steps can you take to address this? [13:43]
3. The sermon mentions the "peer factor" and "fear factor" as influences on moral behavior. Can you identify a situation where these factors influenced your actions? How can you ensure your actions align more with a love for God and others? [16:02]
4. King David asked God to create a pure heart within him. What specific prayer or action can you take this week to seek a change of heart in an area you struggle with? [29:40]
5. The sermon emphasizes the hope of a new life through the Holy Spirit. How can you actively seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily decisions and interactions? [31:05]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually "dead" or distant from God. How did you or how can you now open yourself to the "resurrection" and new life offered through Christ? [31:36]
7. The sermon suggests that while we may not achieve perfect obedience, we can begin to live according to God's commandments. What is one specific commandment or teaching of Jesus you want to focus on living out more fully this month? [35:16]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Concern for the Heart's Purity
God's concern has always been with the purity of our hearts, not just our outward actions. The tenth commandment, "You shall not covet," highlights this truth by focusing on the hidden attitudes of the heart rather than visible actions. This challenges the misconception that the Old Testament is solely about external conformity, while the New Testament focuses on internal attitudes. The continuity between the Testaments shows that God has always called His people to purity of heart. Jesus emphasized this in the Sermon on the Mount, where He taught that true righteousness exceeds mere external adherence to the law. Understanding the commandments in this light reveals the depth of God's desire for our hearts to be aligned with His will. [03:20]
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"
Reflection: In what ways have you focused more on outward actions than the purity of your heart? How can you begin to align your heart with God's desires today?
Day 2: The Need for a Savior
The tenth commandment is particularly significant for morally upright individuals who may struggle to see their need for a Savior. It reveals that even those who live good, moral lives are sinners in need of redemption. The story of the Rich Young Ruler illustrates this point. Despite his adherence to the commandments, Jesus exposed the selfishness of his heart, showing that moral actions alone are insufficient. Similarly, the Apostle Paul, who once considered himself faultless under the law, came to realize his sinfulness through the tenth commandment. This realization led him to a deeper understanding of his need for Christ. [06:12]
Romans 7:7-8 (ESV): "What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.' But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you relied on your moral actions rather than recognizing your need for a Savior. How can you acknowledge your need for Christ's redemption today?
Day 3: The Heart of the Problem
The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. Sin is not merely about actions but is rooted in the heart's desires. True transformation requires addressing the heart, not just modifying behavior. Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones emphasized that sins are symptoms of the deeper disease of sin. King David's plea for a pure heart in Psalm 51 exemplifies this need for inner change. By focusing on the heart, we can begin to address the root causes of sin and experience true transformation. [24:51]
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
Reflection: What desires in your heart are leading you away from God? How can you begin to address these desires and seek true transformation?
Day 4: Hope for a New Life
The tenth commandment offers hope for a new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. God's commands are promises fulfilled through Jesus Christ. The realization of our spiritual deadness opens the door to resurrection and new life. Christ offers more than behavior modification; He offers a change of heart. By embracing Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a life reflecting God's character. Though we may not achieve perfect obedience, we begin to live according to God's commandments, experiencing the beginnings of purity, peace, and contentment. [31:05]
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's power to bring about change? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to work in your heart today?
Day 5: Living a Life Reflecting God's Character
By embracing Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a life reflecting God's character. Though we may not achieve perfect obedience, we begin to live according to God's commandments, experiencing the beginnings of purity, peace, and contentment. This transformation is not about achieving perfection but about allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily walk with God. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we become more like Him, reflecting His love and grace to those around us. [35:16]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: How can you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in reflecting God's character today? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate His love and grace to others?
Quotes
The tenth commandment stands all on its own, a category of one. It is different because it does not deal with behaviors that can be seen; it deals with attitudes that go on in the secret place of your heart and of mine. What goes on in the secret place of your heart and mind is undetected; it is known only to God and to you. [01:17]
The tenth commandment blows that kind of thinking apart by making it clear that all the way through human history God has been calling us to more than correct behavior. He calls us to purity of heart. That's not just a New Testament idea announced by Jesus; it is right there in the very foundation of the Commandments themselves. [04:44]
The tenth commandment is that it shows us morally upright people that we're sinners who need a savior. If you grasp that in the core of your being, more briefly, the tenth commandment makes it very clear that the heart of my problem is the problem of my heart. Now that's important to grasp. [24:21]
Sin, he says, is not merely a matter of actions and deeds; it is something within the heart that leads to the action. What we must therefore really concentrate upon is not so much sins as Sin. Sins are nothing but the symptoms of a disease called sin, and it is not the symptoms that matter but the disease. [25:23]
The heart of your problem is the problem of your heart, and so the great question that you face is not how do I change my behavior; the primary question is how do I change my heart. Of course, that was the great discovery that King David made. [28:57]
The tenth commandment shows us that morally upright people are sinners who need a savior, that the heart of my problem is the problem of my heart. The last and wonderful thing is this: that the tenth commandment shows me hope of a new life in the power of the Holy Spirit of God. [30:40]
The wonderful thing is you see that the killer commandment was the beginning of hope for the Apostle Paul. Dr. Lloyd Jones points out so wonderfully well in these words: the first sign of spiritual life is to feel that you are dead. When the Commandment came, Paul says, sin revived and I died. [31:16]
You shall not covet. You don't need to go through a life that is forever seeking and never finding, a life that is almost the next thing, the next thing, the next thing, and you always think that the next thing will satisfy you, but it never does because you're chasing the wind. [32:14]
Christ offers more than a change of behavior; he offers a change of heart. He says come to me and I will do something for you and in you that you can never do for yourself. You do not need to be trapped in a life where you are always seeking and never finding. [34:48]
When we come to Christ in this way, recognizing that our only hope is to embrace him who gives to us and is for us what we do not have and what we cannot be, then he puts his Spirit within us. And you know where the Holy Spirit brings us? Back to the rock face. [35:49]
The Spirit of God within you is the power by which you continue the claim, the strength with which you engage in the struggle. The Spirit brings us back to the Commandments, the Spirit brings us back to the rock face, the Spirit brings us back to live in his energy and power. [36:56]
They do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God's Commandments. I have found that liberating because what it's telling me is this: I know I'm not perfectly pure, but in God's grace and by a spirit I have the beginning of purity even in this life. [38:08]
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