Read the Westminster Standards in a year.

Shorter Catechism

Q 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate,1 envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.2

Larger Catechism

Q 148. What are the sins forbidden in the tenth commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate;3 envying4 and grieving at the good of our neighbor,5 together with all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.6


  1. 1 Corinthians 10:10

    nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

    James 3:14-16

    But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (ESV)

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  2. Galatians 5:26

    Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

    Colossians 3:5

    Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (ESV)

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  3. 1 Corinthians 10:10

    nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

    1 Kings 21:4

    And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

    Esther 5:13

    Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” (ESV)

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  4. Galatians 5:26

    Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

    James 3:14

    But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

    James 3:16

    For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (ESV)

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  5. Psalm 112:9-10

    He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever;
    his horn is exalted in honor.
    The wicked man sees it and is angry;
    he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
    the desire of the wicked will perish!

    Nehemiah 2:10

    But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. (ESV)

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  6. Romans 7:7-8

    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. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

    Romans 13:9

    For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

    Colossians 3:5

    Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

    Deuteronomy 5:21

    “‘And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’ (ESV)

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Copyright © Tim Hopper. Based on Calendar of Readings in the Westminster Standards by Dr. Joey Pipa. Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.