March 12, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: Ninth Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 39:1-23; Mark 10:13-31

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. What does this mean? 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 appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.” (Small Catechism: Ninth Commandment and Meaning)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Coveting is dangerous. Jesus warns us against it when He says, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15). He tells this to the crowd around Him when two brothers are arguing over an inheritance. These brothers were on the verge of ruining their relationship over possessions. Sadly, this happens in families all too often.

Why does Jesus warn us against this? Because when we covet, we set up a false idol that we think will make us whole and give us what we need. St. Paul makes this clear when he writes, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) When we want what God has not given to us we show that we do not “fear, love, and trust in God above all things” and that we have broken the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me.”

How do you know you are coveting? One way to diagnose coveting in your life is to consider whether you are happy when your neighbor is sad or sad when your neighbor is happy. There’s a word for being sad about others' happiness. It’s one you probably know well: envy. There’s also a word for being happy about someone else’s sadness. It’s a German word that literally means “damage-joy”: schadenfreude.

Sadly, we have these feelings way too often. It’s okay to be disappointed that you didn’t ace the test; it’s evil when you delight in the fact that someone else fails. It’s okay to be happy that you made the team; it’s evil when you are sad that someone else made it. Envy and schadenfreude invade our lives.

Why is this bad? Because when we covet, we are telling God that we don’t have enough. When we covet, we are telling God that He hasn’t given us what we need. Coveting destroys our thankfulness and our contentment. What’s the remedy? St. Paul tells us to look at the cross: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). God has given you exactly what you need; the proof is there at the cross.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“You shall not crave your neighbor’s house Nor covet money, goods, or spouse. Pray God He would your neighbor bless As you yourself wish success.” Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:10)

Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?

In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms.

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