The concept of concupiscence, often understood as strong or ungodly desire, extends beyond mere sexual longing to encompass a broader yearning for what is forbidden by God. In the account of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve's desire was not sexual but was directed toward the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which He had explicitly prohibited. Eve saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom, and so she took the fruit and ate, giving also to her husband who ate with her. This act exemplifies the lust of the eyes, a form of concupiscence, where their craving was for something visually appealing and promising forbidden knowledge. The apostle John identifies such ungodly desires as the lust of the eyes, alongside the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, categorizing them as worldly desires that are passing away. Human nature resists denial, turning its desires toward acquiring what He has forbidden, highlighting the struggle against such lusts as a central challenge in aligning with His will.

The lust of the eyes is a powerful force, often stimulated by the constant urgings of marketers who exploit human nature's desire to conform and possess more attractive things. This societal pressure pushes individuals to compete for material possessions, making one appear unambitious or odd if they resist. Our Lord warns against such desires, teaching that life does not consist in the abundance of things one possesses. He instructs that whoever looks with intent to lust has already sinned in their heart, emphasizing that we must stop feeding our imagination with impure thoughts and deal radically with sin by avoiding temptations, no matter the cost. This world deliberately designs many things to spark wrong desires within us, constantly urging us to rush for more money, more things, and a better time. Advertising promotes an image of entitlement and luxury, feeding the insatiable desire to have what rightfully belongs to others. Such covetousness, identified as idolatry, places self-interest above obedience to Him, leading to sins like theft, evil ambition, tyranny, and adultery. We must recognize the unstable, insatiable nature of human beings, understanding that no material thing can satisfy spiritual needs. Instead, we are called to seek His kingdom first, setting our minds on things above, not on earthly possessions. To combat these desires, we must hate covetousness, not the things themselves, and observe what it produces—unhappiness, sorrow, pain, and remorse. We are encouraged to be cheerfully generous, remembering that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and to overcome the self-concern and fear of not having enough. His grace teaches us to deny ungodly and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly as we prepare for the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior. With His help, we can overcome these illicit desires through consistent effort, striving to think right thoughts that produce right conduct.

Our Savior elaborates on the seventh commandment in His Sermon on the Mount, teaching that adultery begins long before the physical act occurs. He declares that adultery starts in the heart or mind, even before the eye sees the object of lust or the hand reaches out to touch. He advises the lustful person to take drastic measures if necessary, using stark illustrations to emphasize the importance of changing one's heart. He further explains that out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, including adulteries and fornications, which truly defile a person. Thus, He urges a repentant Christian to attack sexual sin at its starting point, focusing on transforming an immoral way of thinking and mastering self-control. If, by God's Holy Spirit, a Christian diligently works on changing the well-spring of his motivations, the physical transgressions should cease as he learns to control his lust.

The lust of the eyes, as a trap set for mankind, encompasses inordinate desires for the finery and trappings of this world. It includes an insatiable craving for gaudy dress, splendid homes, superb furniture, expensive possessions, and a great lust for wealth. These desires draw the heart away from God, focusing instead on the transient and vain offerings of the world. Such coveting shifts the love and attention that belong to the Father to idols of material gain, placing them above His clear instructions. This lust manifests in the longing for what is pleasant to the eyes, as seen in the beginning with Eve, who saw the forbidden fruit as desirable and pleasing, allowing her desire to override God's command. The serpent's deception awakened a craving that led to disobedience, introducing coveting as a curse upon mankind. This same force operates today, enticing individuals to prioritize worldly splendor over spiritual fidelity, pulling them into a lifestyle opposed to the Kingdom of God. Satan, fully aware of this weakness, sets traps through the lust of the eyes to seduce God's people from His standards. He promotes a world filled with visual temptations that encourage coveting, knowing that such desires can lead to spiritual destruction. The apostle John warns against loving the world or the things in it, for if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. All that is in the world—the lust of the eyes among other traps—is not of the Father but of the world, which is passing away along with its lusts. Only those who do the will of God will abide forever. To combat this, we must renew our minds, casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light. We are called to walk properly, not in lust or envy, but to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, making no provision for the flesh to fulfill its desires. As the day of His return approaches, it remains vital to heed God's command: Thou shall not covet.

Brethren, we are under constant attack from spiritual terrorists, and one critical area where they strike is through the lust of the eyes. As seen in Matthew 4:8-9, the devil took Jesus up on an exceedingly high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." The lust of the eyes is a powerful temptation, a desire for what can be seen, enticing us to covet the material and visible splendors of this world. Every time we succumb to this temptation, it is akin to falling down and worshipping satan, as he promises immediate gratification in exchange for our allegiance. Knowing that satan and his host will attack through the lust of the eyes gives us an advantage in this spiritual warfare. To be victorious, we must become experts in wielding the sword of the Spirit, the rhema of God, rightly dividing and applying specific portions of Scripture to counter these assaults.