In the Ten Commandments, Commandments 678 and 9 are the ones that prohibit active evil,

murder adultery, stealing, and perjury.

And then there is one commandment that prohibits the thing that leads to murder, adultery,

stealing, and perjury.

Which one is it?

It's the last of the Ten.

Do not covet anything that belongs to others.

Not their spouse, their house, their servants, their animals, or any of their property.

In order to understand this commandment and its unique significance, the first thing to

understand is that this is the only one of the Ten Commandments that legislates thought.

All the other Commandments legislate behavior.

In fact, of the 613 laws on the five books of Moses, virtually none prohibit thought.

Why then does the Ten Commandments include a law that prohibits a thought?

Because it is coveting that so often leads to evil.

Or to put it another way, coveting is what leads to violating the preceding four commandments

the ones against murder, adultery, stealing, and perjury.

Think about it.

Why do people do those things?

In most instances, it's because they covet something that belongs to another person.

Obviously that is the reason people steal, thieves covet their victim's property.

But it is also the reason for many murders, and coveting is obviously the reason for adultery

wanting the spouse of another person.

...