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"Everyone is given to covetousness"

Text: Jeremiah 6:13

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The Ten Commandments were given by God in much wisdom. These Commandments, if kept, would lead to great blessings. They were also given to prevent a sinful way of life. The 2nd Commandment was broken when Israel abandoned God for idols. The 10th Commandment was also wilfully broken by the people.

“Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is given to covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the priest,
Everyone deals falsely.
They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
When there is no peace.”
Jeremiah 6:13-14

1. “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness”

a) The 10th Commandment

“You shall not covet” Exodus 20:17a

b) “The least of them”

i) The humble ones.

ii) Those at the lower end of the societal hierarchy.

iii) They were covetous of the wealth that others possessed.

c) “The greatest of them”

i) The wealthy ones.

ii) Those at the top of the societal ladder.

iii) They too coveted though they had so much wealth.

d) “Everyone is given to covetousness”

i) This was a sad state of affairs.

ii) There was greed and discontentment.

iii) There was avarice and strife consequently.

e) “And from the prophet even to the priest”

i) The prophet was not unaffected by this sin of covetousness.

ii) The priest also coveted wealth.

f) “Everyone deals falsely”

i) Falsehood was rampantly practised.

ii) The concept of righteousness was virtually absent.

2. “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.”

a) Ministry of the prophet and priest

i) Their ministry was “healing”.

ii) Not necessarily miraculous healing.

iii) The ministry of healing covers “counselling”.

b) “Healed the hurt of My people slightly”

i) Their ministry was very superficial (“slightly”).

ii) The hurt of the people was deep for they were estranged from God.

iii) But they failed to help the people significantly.

c) “Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.”

i) They promised and chanted “peace”.

ii) But there was no peace at all.

iii) There was no peace with God.

iv) The sin of covetousness, in particular, robs people of peace.

v) Both prophet and priest had failed in their ministry badly.