Tuesday, August 24, 2021

The Ten Commandments

John Stromgren

The Tenth Commandment

I once heard theologian Elizabeth Bettenhausen speak at a conference. She was a firecracker. She said there are only nine commandments for women. When you read this one, you’ll see why. So, for women reading this explanation from Luther’s Small Catechism, I beg your indulgence (as usual) in overlooking the patriarchal language:

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his manservant or his maidservant or his cattle or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not tempt or coax away from our neighbor his wife or his workers, but encourage them to remain loyal.

Might be a good idea not to coax away your neighbor’s husband, either. Or partner. You get the idea. This commandment wraps it all up. And what’s at the heart of this one is wanting things. Mostly things that aren’t ours. But the wanting – what’s that about? If we get these things, will we be satisfied? We don’t usually think about that. We’re too consumed by the yearning, the coveting, the emptiness we want to fill. This reminds me of a passage from Isaiah: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” Which brings us back to the first commandment, with Luther’s explanation: “We are to fear, love, and trust God above anything else.” As it turns out, nothing else will satisfy.