What bible says about Envy

envy

Envy is one of the sins prohibited by Ten Commandments; it consists of that Man desires to possess what does not belong to him or her. The object of envy can be material goods, and immaterial things (beauty, success, virtue Ec 4:4). The point is that, hope in God supposes that all what Man possesses comes from God. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17). Herewith, it is important that God gives to everyone exactly what he needs according to God's plan. The desire to possess what God gave to someone else opposes then by definition the intention of the Creator. Besides, envy contains in itself the Man aspirations to realize his/her will in spite of God's will. It is effectively for the reason why envy is destructive for Man: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones" (Prov 14 :30). Envy becomes the cause of cruelty and violence between people: the envious person tries to get by force what does not belong to him (Micah 2:2). Thus, for all Men, envy such as many others is a transgression of law about loving the neighbor (Rom 13:9).

In the epistle to the Galatians, Apostle Paul includes envy in the roster of “deeds of the flesh “opposing them to fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:19-21). Besides, the apostle especially points out in the epistle to Timothy that envy is not obligatory directed towards material goods. It’s very essential reason relies on the desire of superiority and authority. The most illustrious and tragic example of envy is: Pharisees’ and scribes’ envy of the Lord Jesus Christ, which brought the Savior to die on the Cross.

Related quotes:

Ecclesiastes ch. 4, verse 4

⁴Again, 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.

James ch. 1, verse 17

¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Proverbs ch. 14, verse 30

³⁰A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Micah ch. 2, verse 2

²And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Romans ch. 13, verse 9

⁹For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Exodus ch. 20, verse 17

¹⁷Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Galatians ch. 5, verse 19-21

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

²¹Envyings, 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.

1 Timothy ch. 6, verse 3-4

³If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

⁴He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

Mark ch. 15, verse 9-11

⁹But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

¹⁰For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

¹¹But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.


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