TITUS III, 9. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 8. FLATTERY IS FORBIDDEN. PROV. XX, 19. He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. PROV. XXVI, 28. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. PROV. XXIX, 5. A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet. PROV. II, 16. To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the strange woman that flattereth with her words. JOB XVII, 5. He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. JOB XXXII, 21. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither let me give flattering titles unto man. 22. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away. 1 THESS. II, 5. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness. PSALM XII, 2. They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. PSALM LXXVIII, 36. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 37. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant. CHAPTER X. THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. EXODUS XX, 17: _Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's._ The sin here prohibited is an inordinate desire for, or an unlawful lusting after, what is another man's. Thus the law of God not only condemns sinful actions, it also condemns sinful desires and thoughts. Sin has its origin in the heart. "From within, out of the heart, proceed evil thoughts," etc. Hence the law of God takes cognizance of the state of the heart, as well as of the outward conduct. 1. COVETOUSNESS CONDEMNED. EX. XX, 17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's. DEUT. V, 21. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor's. ROM. VII, 7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 1 COR. V, 11. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat.