Matthew 27:15-18
The act of Pilate in our text is one of
pure hatred for the Jews. The governor, however, had perhaps miscalculated the
intensity level of sin in those Hebrew hearts by raising Barabbas as an
alternative to Jesus. He was placing
them between their awareness of what was right and their self-love. Self-love
is often stronger than estimated.
If they would choose to release Barabbas,
they would be choosing to do what they well knew was wrong. To maintain
his imprisonment and release Jesus would be to let go of their hatred for Him
as well. The price of doing right was too high. Pilate had them in a corner of
impossibilities, and he apparently loved it! The governor’s hatred for the Jews
and the Jews hatred of Jesus were in a tug of war, and the rope they were using
was the righteous Son of God.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of this
account is contained in the little word that Pilate “knew.” It raises the
unavoidable question: “How did he know?” Did he know from research and
investigation? Did he have written reports on his desk from spies he had
commissioned for this purpose? Was it common knowledge that everybody knew
their motives?
The sin of envy has a twin sister named
coveting. They are the enemies of both contentment and a thankful spirit. Envy
was the powerful force that pushed the hands that moved the arms that, with
their downward thrust, nailed Christ to the cross. Envy was powerful enough to
cut the chains that bound a notorious criminal, and in his place, chained an
innocent man to the tomb. Envy is a present and powerful force that is alive
and well in our modern world. Like a snake in the grass, it slithers near the
pathway on which we walk everyday; it is ever near and often unnoticed.
As is often the case, God does not give
us a negative of abstention, but rather a preventative positive. “Rejoice in
the Lord always!” is an uncomplicated command that will prevent envy. “In
everything give thanks!” is a preventative imperative as well. There is no need to brace oneself and push
against the inner, sinful tendency of discontentment. We are not to be weakened
by the lure of envy and coveting, but rather we are given the riches of His
grace.
It is a learned trait that we have, and
we need to learn the lesson well. The apostle writes: “I have learned to be
content in whatever circumstances I am” (Phil. 4:11). The learning comes from
different sources and in different ways for each of us, but there is never a
need to be unhappy. Depression desperately needs to find the pleasure of God.
Life has its inevitable sad points, and discouraging days are unavoidable, but
never can this world offer a negative that can stand against the joy of the
Lord, which is our strength.
For the healthy believer, envy must never
be a motivation. We are rather to love our neighbor as ourselves, and rejoice
when others rejoice.
Matthew 27:15-18
The problem
for the Jewish leaders
A. People
B. Pilate
C. Perfection
The problem
of envy and related sins
A. Envy
B. Jealousy
C. Coveting
D. The Problem
E. The Cause
The
God-given solution
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.