At times the King James Version of the Bible interprets the word ‘envy’ for the word ‘jealous.’ It’s important to understand the difference between envy and jealousy. The concordance of my King James Bible defines envy this way: “discontent or resentment because of another’s success, advantages or superiority.” I would further describe ‘envy’ as a covetous feeling toward another person’s possessions, advantages, or stature. The most common definition for jealous is, “fearful of losing attention” (William and Mary Morris, Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage (2nd ed.), 1985).
“There is the cruelty of fury, the overflowing of anger, But who can withstand jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4, Tanakh) Strong emotion is associated with jealousy, and jealousy is evident throughout the Bible.
Joseph had two dreams that foretold his rise to prominence in Egypt. After sharing the dreams with his family, “His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind” (Genesis 37:11). Later, his brothers sold Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelite merchant dealers traveling to Egypt.
In Psalms 106:7-43, David describes several ways in which the Israelites chose to defy God. Included in his account of failures and their consequences is an account of what happened when the people became jealous of Moses and Aaron. “In the camp they were jealous of Moshe [Moses] and Aharon, Adonai’s holy one. The earth opened up and swallowed Datan and closed over Aviram’s allies. A fire blazed out against that group, and flames consumed the wicked.” (Psalms 106:16-18)
During the earthly ministry of Jesus, religious leaders of that time became jealous of Jesus, which was evident to Pilate. “For he understood that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.” (Matthew 27:18) Jesus told them he was the Son of God, and because of their jealousy and selfish ambition, they chose to call his claim blasphemous. Jealousy blinded them to the truth.
The ministry of Saul/Paul is another example of religious groups at that time becoming jealous and refusing to accept the message of the Good News about Jesus. In Antioch “…when the Jews who had not believed saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and spoke up against what Sha’ul was saying and insulted him.” (Acts 13:45) Paul and his companions left Antioch, and after arriving in Lystra and proclaiming the Good News – to turn from sin to God and trust in his Son, Yeshua the Messiah – “Then some unbelieving Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They won over the crowds, stoned Sha’ul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.” (Acts 14:19) Paul was not dead, and he continued to proclaim the Good News throughout the region, including Thessalonica: “But the unbelieving Jews grew jealous; so they got together some vicious men from the riffraff hanging around the market square, collected a crowd and started a riot in the city…” (Acts 17:5)
“…although they know who God is, they do not glorify him as God or thank him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened.” (Romans 1:21) This sad truth is the same today; religious leaders and their followers are often consumed with jealousy and selfish ambition and cannot recognize the darkness of their souls that make them stumble. It’s worth noting that those who opposed Jesus and his emissaries were religious leaders who believed they were serving God.
“…I am afraid of finding quarreling and jealousy, anger and rivalry, slander and gossip, arrogance and disorder.” (II Corinthians 12:20) “But if you harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don’t boast and attack the truth with lies! This wisdom is not the kind that comes down from above; on the contrary, it is worldly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disharmony and every foul practice.” (James 3:14-16)
Jealousy, and her sister resentment, are corrosive. Like cancer, they spread to other areas of your life and eventually lead to spiritual death. Every individual must make an honest assessment of his or her own spiritual well-being. You may be quick to protest that you are not jealous, although I would invite you to think about your own beliefs and thoughts, especially about the Jewish people.
God loves his people – the Israelites. They have a covenant with God (Genesis 17:7), and we (Gentiles) have an opportunity. “Now if the hallah [special bread] offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole loaf. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you – a wild olive – were grafted in among them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree, then don’t boast as if you were better than the branches! However, if you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, the root is supporting you. So you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” True, but so what? They were broken off because of their lack of trust. However, you keep your place only because of your trust. So don’t be arrogant; on the contrary, be terrified! For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly won’t spare you! So take a good look at God’s kindness and his severity: on the one hand, severity toward those who fell off; but, on the other hand, God’s kindness toward you – provided you maintain yourself in that kindness! Otherwise, you too will be cut off! Moreover, the others, if they do not persist in their lack of trust, will be grafted in; because God is able to graft them back in. For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!” (Romans 11:16-24)
God makes it abundantly clear that he will live among his people in Jerusalem, although “many nations will join themselves to Adonai” (Zechariah 2:15(11)). “…Yerushalayim [Jerusalem] will be inhabited in her own place, Yerushalayim.” (Zechariah 12:6)
So, let’s join David; “Remember me, Adonai, when you show favor to your people, keep me in mind when you save them; so I can see how well things are going with those whom you have chosen, so that I can rejoice in your nation’s joy, and glory in your heritage.” (Psalms 106:4-5) Now is the time to make an honest judgment of your own heart; is jealousy hidden in your heart stemming from a fear of losing attention from God? Is jealousy leading to darkness?
“Anyone who claims to be in this light while hating his brother is still in the dark” “If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth. But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.” (I John 2:9, 1:6-7)
*All scripture is from the Complete Jewish Bible unless noted otherwise