Envy and Pride

SCRIPTURE
Mark 15:9-11: "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.

OBSERVATION
So, it was obvious to many that this was all a fabrication - the trumped up charges against Jesus. Pilate knew it was "out of envy" that the chief priests had brought Jesus to him. In Chapter 14, Jesus appears before the Sanhedrin, and it is mentioned several times that their stories did not agree. Out of envy! Were these priests really Godly men who gave in to fleshly temptation to keep their reputations and positions? Or were they merely 'acting out' Godliness for the sake of a prestigious job? Although this was all the fulfillment of God's divine plan, it's so easy to see the sin at work from which Jesus was sent to redeem us. What irony.


APPLICATION
What do I do out of pride or envy? Use my words inappropriately? Put on appearances? Be less than genuine? Am I overly critical of others? Do I use my position at work or in my home to pull rank? Ouch! Do I have to keep thinking about this?

PRAYER
Father, let me humble myself on a daily basis so that You don't have to do it for me. Teach me to be real and to choose my words carefully. Amen.