Do Not Envy This!

1. Read: Matthew 27:18

2. About the Text:

1) Jesus is standing before Pilate to be judged and ultimately crucified.

2) The Jewish leaders brought Jesus before Pilate on trumped up charges.

3) Pilate understood that the Jewish leaders envied Jesus.

4) They envied Jesus because they wanted the glory and honor to go to them and not to God.

5) The fact of their envy is also recorded in Mark 15:10.

3. About Envy

1) The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word “envy” as follows: A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another.

2) That envy in and of itself is sinful is a point reinforced throughout the New Testament.

a. It is listed in Romans 1:29 as part of the sins of which the gentiles were guilty.

b. It is listed in Galatians 5:21 as part of the works of the flesh.

c. Paul lists it in Titus 3:3 as part of the state of the sinner before obeying the gospel.

3) The Christian ought not to envy; the Bible teaches all things are ours (1 Cor.3:21-23).

4) However, we are tempted to envy the things of others.

5) In this lesson, we will look at some things that God has specifically told us NOT to envy.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Who is this?

1) The ASV says “man of violence.”

2) The KJV says “oppressor.”

3) Man of violence seems to be the more accurate of the two.

4) It includes the oppressor, but also includes others as well being a broader term.

5) This may refer to . . .

a. A mercenary.

b. A soldier who loves killing and hurting.

c. A ruler who controls through fear and violence (e.g. modern day drug dealers).

2. Why this warning?

1) Upon immediate inspection of this concept, we may think, “Why would I envy a man of violence?”

2) There is the tendency in our society to glorify the man of violence.

3) Some violent men gain tremendous wealth in short periods of time (Proverbs 11:16).

4) Men sometimes turn to violence to cover up other sinful activities.

3. What does God’s word have to say about violence?

1) It was one of the reasons God destroyed the earth with the flood: Genesis 6:11 “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”

2) It is something the Lord hates: Psalm 11:5 “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”

3) God forbids it: Jeremiah 22:3 “Thus saith Jehovah: Execute ye justice and righteousness, and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence, to the sojourner, the fatherless, nor the widow; neither shed innocent blood in this place.”

4) John told the soliders that came to be baptized of him “Do violence to no man” (Luke 3:14).

4. Why should we not envy the violent man?

1) Because it brings shame and reproach. Proverbs 19:6 “He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.”

2) He will be overthrown. Psalm 140:11 “An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”

3) We find the ultimate answer in Ecclesiastes 5:8 “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.”

1. Who is this?

1) The KJV says “foolish.”

2) The ASV says “arrogant.”

3) The idea is the one who boasts in himself and believes himself better than others.

2. Why this warning?

1) The arrogant are often very confident of themselves (often falsely so) and we envy what appears to be confidence.

2) We may envy the arrogant because they command the respect and attention of their peers.

3) We may envy the arrogant because they are rich and don’t feel like they owe anyone else anything.

3. What does God’s word say about arrogance?

1) He works in sinful pride: Proverbs 21:24 “The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride.”

2) It is something that God hates: Psalm 5:5 “The arrogant shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.”

3) They boast in themselves: Psalm 94:4 “They prate, they speak arrogantly: All the workers of iniquity boast themselves.”

4. Why should we not envy the arrogant man?

1) Because he will fall: Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

2) Because they are not the source of their own elevation: Psalm 75:4-7 ” I said unto the arrogant, Deal not arrogantly; And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high; Speak not with a stiff neck. For neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor yet from the south, cometh lifting up. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and lifteth up another.”

3) Psalm 94:23 “And he hath brought upon them their own iniquity, And will cut them off in their own wickedness; Jehovah our God will cut them off.”

4) They will be punished by God: Isaiah 13:11 “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Romans 1:30, 32.

1. Who is this?

1) They are “evil men.”

2) They are “evil-doers.”

3) They are workers of “iniquity.”

4) They are “sinners.”

5) These are those who, disengaging from all sobriety, act in whatever manner they please, with anyone they please, for whatever reasons they please all to the gratifying of their own fleshly desires.

2. Why this warning?

1) Because sin and unrighteousness are pleasurable to a degree; they seem to have so much fun! (Hebrews 11:25).

2) They get rich, party and have a good time.

3) It is tempting for us to want to have a good time along with them.

3. What does God’s word say about the unrighteous and the sinner?

1) Proverbs 1:10-15 “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:”

2) They shall not stand with God’s people: Psalm 1:5 “Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”

3) They are commanded to repent, and be clean and pure. James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.”

4. Why should we not envy the sinner?

1) They will be cut off. Psalm 37:2 “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”

2) If we do not envy them, then our reward will not be cut off. Psalm 23:17, 18 “Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off.”

3) They will be destroyed: Isaiah 1:28 “But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.”

4) They will end up in hell for all eternity: Revelation 21:8 “But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”

1. Do not envy this!

1) The man of violence.

2) The arrogant man.

3) The sinner.

2. Invitation

Do Not Envy This!