Covetousness (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 44; Matthew 13:10-23, 44-52) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. What Is Forbidden
II. What is Required
Psalm singing: 146:1-8; 38:8-13; 27:1-5; 51:6-10, 16-17
Scripture reading: Matthew 13:10-23, 44-52

Herman Hoeksema on Lord’s Day 44: “Contentment, in opposition to covetousness, is the Christian virtue and attitude whereby one seeks the things above not the things on the earth. It is the spiritual state of the one who hears and obeys the admonition of the apostle Paul (Col. 3:1-4) ... This is also implied in the injunction of the tenth commandment. I may never set my heart on anything as an object of my desire that is merely earthly and has no connection with the kingdom of God or is opposed to it. I may never long for any object that is merely temporal, divorced from eternal things. I must set my heart on heavenly things and seek the things of the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Then all other things will be added unto me” (Love Thy Neighbor for God’s Sake, p. 188).

Psalm 146:1-8
1 PRAISE God. The Lord praise, 0 my soul,
2 I’ll praise God while I live;
While I have being to my God
in songs I’ll praises give.
3 Trust not in princes, nor man’s son,
in whom there is no stay:
4 His breath departs, to’s earth he turns;
that day his thoughts decay.
5 0 happy is that man and blest,
whom Jacob’s God doth aid ;
Whose hope upon the Lord doth rest,
and on his God is stay’d :
6 Who made the earth and heavens high
who made the swelling deep,
And all that is within the same;
who truth doth ever keep :
7 Who righteous judgment executes
for those oppress’d that be,
Who to the hungry giveth food ;
God sets the pris’ners free.
8 The Lord doth give the blind their sight,
the bowed down doth raise:
The Lord doth dearly love all those
that walk in upright ways.

Psalm 38:8-13
8 So feeble and infirm am I,
and broken am so sore,
That, through disquiet of my heart,
I have been made to roar.
9 O Lord, all that I do desire
is still before thine eye;
And of my heart the secret groans
not hidden are from thee.
10 My heart doth pant incessantly,
my strength doth quite decay;
As for mine eyes, their wonted light
is from me gone away.
11 My lovers and my friends do stand
at distance from my sore;
And those do stand aloof that were
kinsmen and kind before.
12 Yea, they that seek my life lay snares:
who seek to do me wrong
Speak things mischievous, and deceits
imagine all day long.
13 But, as one deaf, that heareth not,
I suffer’d all to pass ;
I as a dumb man did become,
whose mouth not open’d was

Psalm 27:1-5
1 THE Lord’s my light and saving health,
who shall make me dismay’d?
My life’s strength is the Lord, of whom
then shall I be afraid?
2 When as mine enemies and foes,
most wicked persons all,
To eat my flesh against me rose,
they stumbled and did fall.
3 Against me though an host encamp,
my heart yet fearless is :
Though war against me rise, I will
be confident in this.
4 One thing I of the Lord desir’d,
and will seek to obtain,
That all days of my life I may
within God’s house remain;
That I the beauty of the Lord
behold may and admire,
And that I in his holy place
may rev’rently enquire.
5 For he in his pavilion shall
me hide in evil days;
In secret of his tent me hide,
and on a rock me raise.

Psalm 51:6-10, 16-17
6 Behold, thou in the inward parts
with truth delighted art;
And wisdom thou shalt make me know
within the hidden part.
7 Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me,
I shall be cleansed so;
Yea, wash thou me, and then I shall
be whiter than the snow.
8 Of gladness and of joyfulness
make me to hear the voice;
That so these very bones which thou
hast broken may rejoice.
9 All mine iniquities blot out,
thy face hide from my sin.
10 Create a clean heart, Lord, renew
a right sp’rit me within.
16 For thou desir’st not sacrifice,
else would I give it thee;
Nor wilt thou with burnt-offering
at all delighted be.
17 A broken spirit is to God
a pleasing sacrifice:
A broken and a contrite heart,
Lord, thou wilt not despise.