Abounding Grace: The Grace of the Law - Wanting

The last commandment is a critical one to end with because it exposes the issue behind all the other commandments, desire. An important point to lead with is that the commandment does not say, “don’t desire.” God does not condemn desires, but desires for what others have. God created us to desire! We’re to desire him, his glory, the wellbeing of others, etc. The problem is that our desires are deceitful and distorted by our sin nature. As C.S. Lewis famously said, “Our desires are not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” This adds some clarity to the commandment.

Another important point is that sinful desires are just that, sinful. While the other commandments forbid actions, the tenth confronts what’s going on in our heart that no one but God and we ourselves know. When David saw Bathsheba his distorted desire (10th commandment) led him to violate the 7th (adultery), the 6th (murder), the 9th (false witness) and the 1st (idolatry). David should have recognized his distorted desire and immediately repented. This commandment challenges our culture’s argument that having a desire is not sinful. God says sinful desires violate his law, destroying his creation and our community.

Join us Sunday as we consider the Tenth Commandment and the presentation of God’s goodness.