The Ninth Commandment

"You shall not covet your neighbors house;"  (Exodus 20:17a)

After a thorough study of the scriptures, the Reformers summarized what the ninth commandment means in this way: 

"We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appear right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it."

The ninth and the tenth commandments are very similar and division the catechism makes is fairly arbitrary. That said, here is what the Reformers had in mind: The ninth commandment is about your neighbors THINGS and POSSESSIONS. The tenth commandment is about the people and other "thinking beings" that owe your neighbor some form of allegiance.

However, from YOUR perspective, these two commandments are basically the same: God gives YOU what you need for life; God gives YOUR NEIGHBOR what he or she needs for life. Desiring "what your neighbor has and you don't" is the heart and soul of coveting. Acting on those desires simply reveals your desires for what they really are.