Jealousy: Where is it often found?
Certainly envy and jealousy can be found anywhere because it is such a common sin. Unbelievers are always guilty of these sins as well others. But even the apostle Paul acknowledged his own sinful state.
Romans 7:18
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [Emphasis added]
Any honest believer will acknowledge the same thing about himself. There are many passages of Scripture that speak of this.
Romans 3:23
23 For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [Emphasis added]
But a place where jealousy is extremely common is in “religious” circles. This may come as a surprise to you, but you’ll find as I have that this is true. I first became aware of this, even the object of a lot of it, in the early days of my ministry as a young college student. Most of the jealousy came from “religious” people.
Our Lord, in the time of His earthly ministry, was constantly having to deal with it in his relations with those the Bible speaks of as the scribes and Pharisees. In so many ways the religious leaders were such hypocrites. They were quick to point their fingers at people concerning all kinds of sins, but they were guilty of terrible sins themselves. Here’s a passage of Scripture that informs us of this—
Matthew 23:1-5a
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
Here he’s speaking of the authoritative position these men held over the people of Israel. The things they taught from the Scriptures were apparently often good, but so often they failed to make the applications themselves.
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5a But all their works they do for to be seen of men:… [Emphasis added]
These people were constantly working to make a positive impression on everyone. But they were quite guilty of some of the worst of sins and our Lord was constantly having to deal with the effect of them. This was greatly because of the attention our Lord got. These religious leaders were jealous of it. It was their envy of Christ that motivated so many of the things they did to Him, ultimately including their demand for His arrest and crucifixion.
Matthew 27:17-18
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy [PHTHONOS = envy] they had delivered him. [Emphasis added]
Christ was constantly having to deal with angry envious people but especially the “religious” leaders.
Acts 5:17
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation [AGANAKTESIS = jealous anger], [Emphasis added]
As one might expect, being so Christlike, the apostle Paul was also constantly having to deal with such people.
Acts 13:45
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. [Emphasis added]
Paul warns us all about being guilty of this kind of thinking and this kind of activity.
Romans 13:13
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [Emphasis added]
But the ones most guilty of this were apparently the “religious” Jews who worked against Paul at every turn.
Acts 17:4-5
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. [Emphasis added]
While there are those who may not make a practice of it, many preachers are extremely guilty of this sin. They have been in the past and they are today.
Philippians 1:15
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: [Emphasis added]
As I was saying, believers need to be mindful of all this and work to not be one of those guilty of it because it makes them look just like unbelievers.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren [fellow believers], could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, [ones who are obedient to God’s Word] but as unto carnal [ones living under the influence of their sinful nature], even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk [figurative for elementary teaching], and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men [live like unbelievers]? [Emphasis added]
In Paul’s second letter to these people, he was still having to address them about their petty jealousies.
2 Corinthians 12:20
20 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: [Emphasis added]
Envy emanates from one’s flesh, one’s sinful nature and not necessarily Satan, as many tend to think.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of THE FLESH are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: 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. [Emphasis added]
Again, here he’s exhorting them to not act or live like unbelievers. However, this form of jealousy is quite different from another form that is said to be of God.
2 Corinthians 11:2-3
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [Emphasis added]
We all need to be aware of the fact that our sinful nature is prone to look for opportunities to express sins such as jealousy.
James 4:5
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? [Emphasis added]
As it is with some other sins, jealousy is said to be cruel.
Song of Solomon 8:6
6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. [Emphasis added]
It is the influence of the Spirit of God producing in us a Christlike love for people that is the best deterrent to envy.
1 Corinthians 13:4
4 Charity [AGAPE = love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [Emphasis added]
Always realize that being envious is as big a threat to you as it is the object of your envy. It can be a very destructive sin to all involved with it. That’s a major reason to avoid being guilty of it. Never think that only the person who is the object of your envy will be affected by it. It can even produce psychosomatic problems.
Proverbs 14:30
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. [Emphasis added]
If a person’s sin of jealousy is not controlled by the application of God’s Word, it produces an entire life of sin, guilt, and misery. It can be especially hard on family relationships.
Acts 7:9
9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, [Emphasis added]
Jealousy is one of the strongest of all mental attitude sins.
Proverbs 27:3-4
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? [Emphasis added]
Unfortunately, jealousy is often the primary motivator behind much of the production in business, but not all.
Ecclesiastes 4:4
4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. [Emphasis added]
These envious people who do often rise to a place of prominence should not be envied.
Psalm 37:1
1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. [Emphasis added]
This is such a common problem there are many clear warnings about it in Scripture.
Psalm 73:3
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 3:31
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. [Emphasis added]
Just because they may seem to be successful at many things they are complete failures in life and in the attainment of a wonderful life.
Proverbs 23:17
17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. [Emphasis added]
Keeping company with them tends to rub off on people. So, avoid building close friendships with them. If you do, you’ll inevitably suffer because of it. This is at the heart of why we have so many warnings about it.
Proverbs 24:1
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. [Emphasis added]
Here in just one chapter of many proverbs the warning is repeated.
Proverbs 24:19
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked: [Emphasis added]
Again, your work to have a close association with such people will inevitably create some pain in your own life. They need help but if you try to become a part of that help, be very careful.
God has severely punished some people in the past for this foolishness. We can learn valuable lessons from them.
Romans 15:4
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. [Emphasis added]
There are so many people in Scripture who serve as bad examples for us. We all need to learn from their mistakes. We can all grow spiritually by doing that.
1 Peter 2:1-2
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [Emphasis added]
Romans 13:13-14
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. [Emphasis added]
This “putting on of the Lord Jesus Christ” tends to be a slow and tedious process. It takes time and one’s faithful intake of God’s Word. It is this and this alone that will create the transformation in one’s thinking that brings forth a cure for the sins of envy, jealousy, as well as others.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Emphasis added]
