You young people might disagree, but I am not yet an old man – older every day – but not “old” as yet. One aspect of that point is the fact that I still learn things. I can’t say that I learn something new every day, but I do learn things from time to time. Sadly, as I said, I am “older” – what that means is that I don’t always retain the new things that I learn. Friday I learned something new – it is not a matter of life or death, but it is interesting. It is something which I hope to retain for a while, but I’ll probably have to work at it to make that happen.
We are told here in our text that Pilate was aware that the Jews had brought Christ to him “out of ENVY.” The Greek word is “phthonos” (fthon’-os), and it is always translated either “envy” or “envying.” There is another more common word – “zelos” (dzay’-los) which is also translated “envy,” but it is rendered “zeal,” “indignation,” “a fervent mind,” and “jealousy” as well. Is there a difference between “envy” and “jealousy,” and if so what is it? There is the thing which I learned last Friday.
I looked up “envy” in my “Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.” Mr. Vine listed the scriptures where the word is used, adding a few obvious notes. But then he wrote, “‘Zelos’ is to be distinguished from ‘phthonos.’ The distinction lies in this, that ENVY desires to DEPRIVE another of what he has. JEALOUSY desires to HAVE the same or the same sort of thing for itself.” You might not find that distinction in a cheap English dictionary, because it is more of a Greek difference. And yet in the older, better dictionaries the idea is certainly inferred. Here is the definition from my very old “Chamber’s Etymological Dictionary” – “Envy; to look upon with a grudging eye; to hate on account of prosperity. To pain at the sight of another’s success; a wicked desire to supplant. Ill-will.” These Jewish priests didn’t just covet the popularity of Christ for themselves, or to be able to work the miracles that Jesus performed. For them it wasn’t just a matter of simple “jealousy.” They were filled with hatred and were consumed with ill-will towards the Lord – they wanted Him dead. Pilate knew that, and yet still he bowed to their wishes.
I realize that for the rest of this message, I will be vacillating back and forth between “envy” and “jealousy.” The Bible does that to some degree. In some scriptures and some points the difference between the two is clear, but in others….not so much. My point will be that both are sins and should not be found in the life of the child of God. This message will hardly be homiletical – no three points and a poem tonight. This will be little more than topical accumulation of scriptures on “envy” and “jealousy.” There might also be a verse or two touching on “covetousness” – the cousin of these wicked brethren.
Let’s first try to establish the fact that these are two dangerous, destructive sins in any human being.
Lay aside the few anthropomorphic references to Gods jealousy, and think only about the human variety. How quickly do we find it creeping into human hearts? Wasn’t jealousy a part of the sin of Eve, stoked by the fan of Satan? She wanted to be like God, knowing good and evil, and she wanted the fruit of the forbidden tree. Then what happened? The entire race of future humanity was plummeted into sin. And what was the next major sin-event in human history? Cain and Abel brought sacrifices unto the Lord, but God had respect only unto Abel’s sacrifice. “But unto Cain and to his offering (God) had not respect. and Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” (So) “Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”
In how many scriptures do we see either evy or jealousy fueling sin? Of course, we aren’t surprised to find it among the heathen – that is where you’d expect it to be. Look at the princes of Babylon as Daniel rises in power and honor. They were not just jealous of this Hebrew interloper; they were envious to the point of hatred and murder. Haman, the friend of king Ahasuerus, came home to his wife and friends one day with mixed emotions. He was boasting of his great position under the king, but…. “All this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s gate.” Zeresh encouraged him to build a gallows for the hanging of Mordecai. But Haman’s envy ended rather badly. “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.” There is not a single good thing said in the Word of God for human envy or jealousy. And what appears to be good about covetousness has to be carefully examined.
We expect to find these sins among the wicked, but not in the people of God. I realize that Abraham was part of the equation, but what was the relationship between Hagar and Sarah and what was the cause? Jealousy destroyed their relationship. Two generations later we read in Genesis 31:1 – “When Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, she envied her sister.” Of which aspect of this sin was Rachel guilty – hateful envy or simple jealousy? Jealousy nearly ruined the relationship between Aaron and Meriam and their brother Moses. Why did the earth open up under the tents of Korah? I can tell you – it was the sin of envy. Saul, the son of Kish, had a good thing going for him by the grace of Almighty God. He had been made king of Israel, and the blessings of the Lord were flowing in his direction. Yes, there were earlier sins, but what eventually consumed that man was envy, not jealousy, but envy against David. Saul might be looked upon as a type of the priests in Jesus’ day – filled with hatred toward the anointed of God. Another example of envy would have to be the brothers of Joseph. Rarely does one sin stand alone, and this is another obvious example. Jacob sinned in preferring some of his sons over others. And perhaps Joseph made too much of that before his brethren. But as Stephen said in Acts 7:9 – “The patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt.” It wasn’t merely that they wanted what Joseph possessed; they hated their brother for what he had.
We are somewhat familiar with the problems that Brother Parrow is suffering through. He has a weak heart and some of his doctors are even saying that he could use a heart transplant. Of course with all his allergies and reactions to medicines this isn’t feasible. So he is exercising and doing other things to strengthen what the Lord has given to him. Brother Tim doesn’t have the energy to do all the things that he has done in the past. He tires easily; he may suffer from shortness of breath, and a dozen other things. The importance of one’s heart to a person’s day-to-day life cannot be overstated. As Proverbs 14:30 says, “A sound heart is the life the flesh.” But then the verse goes on, “but envy (is) the rottenness of the bones.” Both envy and jealousy are like spiritual osteoporosis – destroying the skeletal framework of our being. King Saul is a good example – that man was consumed from the inside out – by envy.
Examine your life – examine YOUR heart this evening. Is there something which you covet to the point of jealousy or even envy? Maybe it is flawless skin or the perfect body as defined by some brainless super-model. Maybe it is some status symbol like a particular car or some form of jewelry. Perhaps you are jealous because some fool has lots of money while you are barely scraping by. Jealousy can form around inanimate things – like serenity and peace. Has anyone, out of envy, ever tried to destroy the peacefulness that is found in another person? I mean, they were not just jealous, but they were actually envious to the point of criminal action? Look at your heart. Are there things in others over which you are jealous? I can affirm through the scriptures that this is an highly dangerous sin.
Let’s throw together some of the scriptures on this subject and make an application or two.
For example, consider the envy of Annas, Caiaphas and their priestly friends. They didn’t simply covet what Christ Jesus possessed; they wanted Him destroyed. Their envy blinded them to the facts in the case – He really is the Messiah. Their envy turned them into murderers. How many thousands of times has covetousness turned into jealousy which then evolved into envy. How many envious people commit the ultimate of murder?
We have to remind ourselves that Job’s friends were not ignorant men, and they didn’t get everything wrong. Eliphas was correct in Job 5 when he said, “wrath killed the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.” We have all known people who couldn’t control their tempers, and sometimes they have ruined their lives. Some have ended up in prison or on the gallows. They are fools who cannot control their wrath. But Eliphas pointed out that envy is just as dangerous, and it may be found not in fools, but simply silly people. Some people need to put a plaque over their bedroom door to be read every morning. Song of Solomon 8:6 – “Jealousy is cruel as the grave, the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.” Or how about Ezekiel 35:11 – “Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them.” Do you want the Lord to apply to you what you have wished to apply to others?
In several New Testament books we have lists of sins – they should not be found in the lives of saints. In the majority of those lists we find the words “jealousy” or “envy.” Romans chapter 1 describes those people who “did not like to retain God in their knowledge,” so “God gave them over to a reprobate mind.” Why does he then go on to describe sins which are found in modern professing Christians? “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.” In a context with homosexuality, we find envy, a lack of natural affection, a lack of mercy, deceit and these other sins. In II Corinthians Paul says he had been slow in returning to Corinth because he was fearful of what he might find.
“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.” In Galatians 5 we read, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.” Are we guilty of any of these? Please note the rest of verse 25 – “of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” There are other New Testament lists of sins and in almost every one of them there is mention of envy. Brethren beware.
Pastor James describes for us what it is to be considered worldly. He also tells us how dangerous it is for the professed child of God to live like the world. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” From where do these sins come? This covetousness; this lust? James 4:5 – “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” These sins are contrary to the heart of God, and they should be contrary to the heart of the saint. Paul tells Titus that these sorts of sins were a part of our lives prior to our salvation – so why are they found in us now? “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,” And we were saved according to his mercy, “by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
What steps can we take to prevent the cancer of envy and jealousy in our lives?
A few minutes ago, I quoted Galatians 5 – “Now the words of the flesh are manifest which are these.” Among the list we found envyings. But then the scripture goes on – verse 21 – “as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” How can we overcome our propensity for the sins of the flesh? By earnestly coveting – yes coveting– the gift or gifts of the Holy Spirit. Where there is the presence of love, joy and peace, there will be no room for jealousy and envy. If we live in the Spirit, we will also walk in the Spirit.
Every day for the rest of our lives, we need to wake up with the prayer for the filling and fulness of the Holy Spirit. I’m not talking about some charismatic, holy rollering, speaking in tongues, seeing visions sort of thing. I am talking about the peaceable fruit of the spirit.
There is a verse in Proverbs which somewhat parallels this thought from Galatians. Proverbs 23:17 – “Let not thine heart envy sinners; but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” This fear of the Lord is not a fear for our lives if we mess up and covet something. This is the respect which brings us humbly into the presence and fellowship of the Lord. This the fear which results in constant prayerfulness and holiness and Heavenliness. This is the fear which encourages us to “set our affections on things above,” not on the successes of the worldly and sinful people around us.
Just as Pilate knew that for envy the Jews had delivered Christ into his hands, so too the world around you knows how much covetousness, jealousy and envy is found in you. Don’t let this sin destroy either you or the testimony that you have for the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember Hebrews 13:5 – “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”