Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Exodus 20:17

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"To will," he says, "is present with me; but not so, how to perfect that which is good." Has he said, To do good is not present with me? Had he said so, hope would be wanting. He does not say, To do is not present with me, but, "To perfect is not present with me." For what is the perfecting of good, but the elimination and end of evil? And what is the elimination of evil, but what the law says, "Thou shalt not lust [covet]"? To lust not at all is the perfecting of good, because it is the eliminating of evil. …

Tractate On The Gospel Of John 41.12 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

Love of money then is an old, an ancient vice, which showed itself even at the declaration of the divine law; for a law was given to check it.

On the Duties of the Clergy 2.26.130 ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

The Law of the Old Testament certainly forbids coveting another's wife, but it does not punish a king for commanding brave deeds of soldiers, or for desiring water. And we all know that David, pierced by the sword of concupiscence, both coveted and took away another man's wife. Fitting scourges followed his fault, and he corrected the evil he had perpetrated through the lamentations of penance.

40 Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 34 ↗