Gospel and Spiritual Growth Series by
Pastor
Message #36 –
Our study this past Sunday was on the 14th work of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:20, 21, envyings. It is a plural in the Greek. The word occurs in the noun nine times and in the verb one time. Six of its ten occurrences are in clusters of unrighteousness. There may be a reference to this work of the flesh in Mark 7:22 where there is a description of a malignantly evil eye. Most are familiar with the description of envy as "the green eye of envy."
Envy is a feeling of ill will or malice that resents benefits received by another person. Eight of the ten references are found in grace revelation. The word is not found in the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Old Testament but is found in the Apocryphal books of the LXX five times. In classical Greek it has the same idea as does the Koine Greek. A simple way to state it is that it is the resentful or even hateful dislike of the good fortune or blessing of another person. My definition is in the outline under E. 1. One is indignant that another person has received a benefit often with the feeling that the envious person is just as deserving as the one who receives the benefit. This word is always negative though some believe it is used of the Holy Spirit in James 4:5. The details of the definition are listed under E.
In Matthew 27:18 and Mark 15:10 envy has a role in the crucifixion of Christ. The two passages must be taken together in order to understand the significance. Matthew tells us that Pilate perceived that envy was the motivation of the Jews who brought charges against Jesus. He possessed an intuitive knowledge in the Matthew passage. There was a custom that a prisoner be released to the people at that feast (Matt. 27:15 Gk.). Mark identifies the chief instigators as the chief priests. Here Pilate is seen as having an experiential knowledge that they delivered Jesus because of or through envy. Even though envy is an internal attitude, it could be seen from outside by an unbelieving ruler. The chief priests stirred the people up to ask for Barabbas and for the crucifixion of Jesus. Why did the chief priests envy? Scripture doesn't say. Were they envious of His powers as a healer and c.? Were they envious of his success in gaining followers from their own people? Were they envious of his knowledge of the Scriptures? Whatever motivated their envy, it carried them to call for His murder.
Some scholars consider James 4:5 to be one of the most difficult passages to interpret in the New Testament. There are two problems with the verse. It says: "Do you think that the scripture is saying in emptiness?" This appears to mark a citation of a specific verse of Scripture. I had six pages of Hebrew, Greek and English Scripture passages in the pulpit with 16 passages that have been suggested as the verse cited. None of them match up with the Greek text. I believe that this is a composite citation = a compilation of a number of concepts from the O. T. It is the gist of several O. T. passages put together when it says, "The spirit that is settling down and feeling at ease in us is yearning facing envy." The verbal form isn't the normal form to introduce O. T. quotes. Usually it is a perfect tense verb while here it is a continuous action present tense verb. The second problem in the verse is whether spirit refers to the Holy Spirit or to the human spirit. Modern translations tend to capitalize it referring to the Holy Spirit. This does not fit in with the context which focuses on problems with human beings. The context includes manifestations of all three spiritual enemies of the believer including three lusts from the flesh (adultery, hatred and envy).
Five passages place the noun envy in clusters with other words for unrighteousness. In Romans 1:29 one of the conditions of the men at Sodom and Gomorrah [cf. context] was that they were full of envy. The appetite of the flesh was insatiable and when others got what they lusted for those men envied them. Their envy was related to evil things that their fallen nature craved and that others had received and practiced. Notice that the next word in the list is murder. Envy can reach so far as to cause one to murder.
1 Tim. 6:4 describes a teacher of unhealthy words as having envy and causing battles with words and strife. Tit. 3:3 finds envy with nine characteristics and with that which is lacking in character and hatred on each side of envy. It is found in the plural in the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:21. The plural is also found in 1 Peter 2:1 where the believer is encouraged to lay aside certain behaviors. Hypocrisies and all evil speakings surround envy. Envy is found in the plural because it expands from envy for one benefit another receives to other benefits that the same person has received. It is expansive and explosive. It spreads quickly leading to other works of the flesh.
In the last message in this series we related to Phil. 1:15, 16 where there are those described as authoritatively preaching through the agency of envy and strife (both works of the flesh). "The Christ" refers to that entity which is Christ as the Head of the Church and the Church His Body together. Though these preachers do not know the spiritual life, they preach similar truth but through their envy and strife agitating the saints. Envy and strife are seen as antipodal to good will in this verse. Galatians 5:26 encourages the Christian not to become (ginomai) empty glory ones (m. pl. noun), provoking one another of the same kind in a negative way or envying (pres. part.) one another of the same kind. The potential for this work of the flesh to do damage in the local church is great. The "one another of the same kind" persons are believers in the context of Galatians five. It is far better not to begin to become envious of one another than to have this work of the flesh. This is a subtle way to make a believer carnal. When we look at others rather that Christ, the Head of the Church, a host of problems can occur in the life including envy. Many have become carnal because of their misdirected attention toward finite men rather than the infinite God. It is difficult and nearly impossible to direct one's attention to the Right Hand when one is taken up with men and their frailties.
We anticipate a blessed new year. Foremost in our minds is the fact that this could be the time for the meeting in the air. What a happy hope! Today? Perhaps!
Waling in the light enjoying Eternal Life,
DKS
#36 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth
Valley –
Galatians
Proposition: To present the concepts involved in the word "envy" so that Christians can know how to identify it and it's manifestation. This is the fourteenth work of the flesh listed in Galatians five. This work involves a feeling of displeasure at seeing or hearing of the prospering of others.
Introduction
A. The Extent of the Directions of Envy
B. The Evidence of a Feeling Against
Someone
C. The Emphasis the Concept in Clusters
1. Noun -- five clusters
2. Verb -- one cluster
D. The Extension to Relationships with the Other People
TRANS: The fourteenth work of the flesh is envy. It involves a feeling of displeasure or unhappiness with the fact that someone has received a benefit (often that one does not have). This word normally has an evil sense.
VI. ENVY
OR ENVYINGS : A FEELING OF ILL-WILL OR
MALICE THAT RESENTS BENEFITS RECEIVED BY ANOTHER PERSON -- PERSONAL INDIGNATION
AGAINST ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE OF A PERCEPTION THAT AN ADVANTAGE IS BETTER
DESERVED BY THE ONE WHO ENVIES -- AN OBJECTIONABLE REACTION AGAINST ANOTHER
PERSON'S GOOD FORTUNE -- Galatians 5:21
A. The Extent of the Revelation in the New Testament
1. fqo,noj (phthonos) -- masculine noun -- nine times trans. "envy" (8x); "envying" (1x)
2. fqone,w (phthoneo)
-- verb -- 1 time trans.
"envy" (1x) -- Galatians
3. Total New Testament Occurrences of All Forms and Derivatives -- 10x
B. The Evidence in its Distribution in the New Testament
1. In the Gospels only as a noun
a. Matt. 27:18
b. Mark
2. In Grace Revelation -- 8 times
a. The Noun -- 7 times (Rom.
4:5; 1 Pe. 2:1)
b. The Verb -- one time (Gal.
C. The Examination of the Uses in the Greek Old Testament (LXX) -- These words are not use in the Biblical text of the Old Testament though the LXX uses them five times in the Apocryphal books
D. The Emphasis of Usage in Classical and Koine Greek (Extensive uses of root in Classics)
1. Envy for the Good Fortune of Others
2. To Bear a Grudge Against a Person on Account of a Thing
3. A Feeling of Resentment or Indignation That May Spring to Refusal to Grant Anything to Another Person
E. The Emphasis of the Definition of Envy
1. My Definition: A feeling of ill-will or malice against another person who has prospered, gained an advantage or received a benefit that brings denial of one's good feeling for the other person's good or gain and reacts with indignation or holds a grudge against that person (because of the good received).
2. The Details from the Definition
a. Involves a negative reaction in the soul (feeling) that easily perverts reason (human spirit)
b. Involves ill will at the good fortune of another person
c. It begrudges something another person receives as a benefit
d. A person is indignant and sees a benefit as a personal insult in that he is unwilling to recognize the right of the recipient of the benefit to receive the benefit
e. A mental resentment that may lead to refusal to be involved with the person and his circumstances
f. Often involves the feeling that the one who envies is more deserving of the benefit than the person who actually received the benefit
G. The Examination of Biblical Revelation for Understanding Envy
1. The Perception of Pilate Concerning the Release of Barnabas Over Jesus -- Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10
a. The Custom of Releasing a Prisoner -- Vs. 15 (Mk. 15:6)
b. The Custody of an Outstanding Prisoner Named Barabbas -- Vs. 16 (Mk. 15:7)
c. The Choice Between Jesus and Barnabas -- Vs. 17 (Mk. 15:8, 9)
d. Pilate's Certainty That the Jews Delivered Jesus Because of Envy -- Vs. 18
(1) The Chief Priests Possessed Envy -- Mk. 15:10
(2) The Chief Priests Pushed the People to Release Barabbas -- Mk. 15:11
(3) The Cry for the Crucifixion of Jesus -- Mk. 15:12-15
2. The Problem with Envy in James 4:5
a. A Pair of Problems
(1) Scripture?
(2) Spirit or spirit?
b. The Potential for Scripture Speaking in Vain (Emptiness)
c. The Projection of a Spirit That Has Settled Down and Feels at Home
d. The Possession of a Longing for or Yearning for
e. The Placing of Envy in a Position of Falling
f. The Presence of All Three Spiritual Enemies
(1) Flesh: Adultery (vs. 4), Hatred (vs. 4), and Envy (vs. 5)
(2) World System -- Vs. 4
(3) Satan and Demons -- Pride -- Vs. 6
3. The Place in Clusters for the Noun -- Five Passages
a. In the Singular
(1) The Condition of Men at
(a) Seen as Full of Envy
(b) Maliciousness (Lacking in Character), Full of Envy, Murder -- Immediate Cluster
(c) Cluster of Twenty-Three Categorized as Unrighteousness
(2) The Condition of a Teacher of Unhealthy Words -- 1 Timothy 6:4
(a) Word Battles, Envy, Strife -- Immediate Cluster
(b) Cluster of Nine Characteristics
(3) The Change That Results from the Kindness and Fondness of God -- Titus 3:3
(a) Malice (Lacking in Character), Envy, Hating -- Immediate Cluster
(b) Cluster of Nine Forms of Unrighteousness
b. In the Plural
(1) The Evidence of Envy as Being a Work of the Flesh -- Galatians 5:21
(a) Bitterness, Anger, Wrath -- Immediate Cluster
(b) Cluster of 17 Works of the Flesh (#14)
(2) The Encouragement of the Removal of Certain Characteristics from One's Life -- 1 Peter 2:1
(a) Hypocrisies, Envies, All Evil Speakings -- Immediate Cluster
(b) Cluster of Five Forms of Unrighteousness
4. The Presence of Works of the Flesh in the Preaching of Some -- Philippians 1:15, 16
a. The Preaching with Authority Concerning the Christ
b. The Presence of Envy and Strife
c. The Pressure from Rivalry (vs. 16)
5. Potential for Becoming Persons with Three Things in the Mind -- Galatians 5:26
a. Empty Glory Persons
b. Provoking One Another of the Same Kind
c. Envying One Another of the Same Kind
TRANS: Envy looks at others with malice that resents any benefits that another person may receive. The green eye of envy can easily affect the believer whose mind is not focused on things above. This is a work that easily leads to several other works of the flesh.
Conclusion
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B.
C.
D.
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