Christian Family Services Ministry

3-13-2022 – A Word to the Wise – ENVY

Matthew 27:18 “For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. “

Envy is one of the most devastating of all the sins. It is the sin of Cain, David and Bathsheba, Daniels’s enemies, Joseph’s enemies, Amon, Eli’s sons, Jesus’s enemies, and Gestas.

Wait a minute who is Gestas? That is the person we are going to talk about. Dymas and his cohort Gestas are the probable names of the two criminals on the crosses next to Jesus. What is important is that Dymas ended up in paradise with Jesus and Gestas was lost. Why?

The text gives us a clue, from Gestas’ mouth “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” (Luke 23:39). Gestas is only interested in being rescued regardless the cost. Dymas questions him, hey man, don’t you fear God? This man is innocent we are guilty. Out of envy Gestas could not repent, Dymas on the other hand, sinner that he was in the last few minutes of life sought the Savior and his dying mercy. Envy was not at the root of his sinful life, but it buried Gestas, and Judas.

This is the core issue with envy, unlike jealous it has no redeeming factors it seeks what another has and desires to destroy the other person.

My mother sixty years ago pointed out that the root sin of homosexuality is envy. At the time I did not understand her wisdom in the matter. Homosexuals demanding of God that they be different than how the Creator made them regardless of the cost to self, or others, or even to God.

It is imperative that we seek out and make sure envy does not lie at the root of our sins. History has shown this one sin has led to the murder and death of more individuals than any other, from the cause of the Great flood to the death of Jesus on the cross (For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Matthew 27:18) to the manic Herod, Hitler, Stalin, and a host of others guilty of genocide. Envy is the one sin that knows no bounds.