Aug. 16, 2026

Envy

Primary Text:  Proverbs 14:30              

This Week’s Teaching:  

1)  You Shall Not Covet

Exodus 20:17:  “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 

Ecclesiastes 4:4:  And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor.  This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Galatians 5:25-26:  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.  

DQ 1) Differentiate between coveting and envy.

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2)  Fleshly Envy 

Mark 7:20-22:  He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’  For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.” 

Galatians 5:19-21:  The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Titus 3:3:  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.  We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  

DQ 2) What sinful heart condition underlies envy?

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3)  Wicked Envy 

Proverbs 14:30:  A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Mark 15:9-13:  “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.  “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.  “Crucify him!” they shouted.  

DQ 3) Why is envy a dangerous sin, leading to other types of evil?

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4)  Envy of Sinners

Proverbs 23:17:  Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 24:1:  Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company.

Proverbs 24:19-20:  Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. 

DQ 4) Why would a Christian be tempted to envy a non-believer?

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5)  Love Does Not

1 Corinthians 13:4:  Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

1 Peter 2:1:  Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  

DQ 5) How does a lack of envy enable you to better love other people?

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