Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Wrath is cruel and anger is violent and outrageous, but envy is still more overpowering, dangerous and destructive, and hard or impossible for anyone to stand against. Under the power of envy and jealousy, prejudice becomes blind, unreasonable, vindictive and cruel, maddening people until they act as if insane.
Envy caused discord in heaven and has wrought great evil among people. Miriam's envy and dissatisfaction shows this danger, for if left unchecked it would have brought great evil.
Envy and jealousy drove the religious leaders, the chief priests, scribes and elders, to persuade the people to reject Jesus and choose Barabbas in His place. Jesus was delivered to a shameful death though no charge was proved and no crime was convicted against Him. Though as guides and instructors the leaders ought to have pointed the people to Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, they instead followed the enemy of all good and persuaded ignorant people who did not know the Scriptures, putting a murderer and robber in His place.
It is no light thing to speak evil of others and make oneself a judge of their motives and actions, for to speak evil of a brother and judge him is to speak evil of the law and judge the law. There is only one judge who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts, so whoever takes it upon himself to judge and condemn his fellow men usurps the prerogative of the Creator.
Wrath is cruel and anger is violent and outrageous, but envy is still more overpowering, dangerous and destructive, and hard or impossible for anyone to stand against. Under the power of envy and jealousy, prejudice becomes blind, unreasonable, vindictive and cruel, maddening people until they act as if insane.
Envy caused discord in heaven and has wrought great evil among people. Miriam's envy and dissatisfaction shows this danger, for if left unchecked it would have brought great evil.
Envy and jealousy drove the religious leaders, the chief priests, scribes and elders, to persuade the people to reject Jesus and choose Barabbas in His place. Jesus was delivered to a shameful death though no charge was proved and no crime was convicted against Him. Though as guides and instructors the leaders ought to have pointed the people to Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, they instead followed the enemy of all good and persuaded ignorant people who did not know the Scriptures, putting a murderer and robber in His place.
It is no light thing to speak evil of others and make oneself a judge of their motives and actions, for to speak evil of a brother and judge him is to speak evil of the law and judge the law. There is only one judge who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts, so whoever takes it upon himself to judge and condemn his fellow men usurps the prerogative of the Creator.