QT 09/03/2026 Mon. Matthew 27 The Power of Envy: Surprising Condemnation 嫉妒的力量：出人意料的定罪
QT 09/03/2026 Mon. Matthew 27 The Power of Envy: Surprising Condemnation
READ http://www.esv.org/matthew27
The power of envy might activate the person to persecute, even kill others, just as the crowd of Jesus’ time did so. Don’t underestimate the destructive power of envy which might crop up in your minds, even today. How to detect and deal with this?
In Gospel of Matthew 27, we are ushered into the tense courtroom of Pontius Pilate. The religious leaders have brought Jesus before Rome, seeking His execution. Yet Matthew gives us a startling insight:
“For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.” (27:18)
Pilate—an unbelieving pagan ruler—perceives what the spiritual leaders refuse to admit: envy is driving this prosecution.
(1) Envy’s Hidden Power
Envy is subtle. It disguises itself as concern for truth, morality, or order. The chief priests likely justified their actions as protecting tradition or guarding the nation. But beneath the religious language was jealousy.
Jesus threatened their authority.
Jesus exposed their hypocrisy.
Jesus attracted the crowds they craved.
Envy turned spiritual leaders into schemers. It is sobering that men entrusted with Scripture could be mastered by comparison and resentment. Envy does not merely distort judgment—it can harden hearts to the point of condemning the innocent.
Scripture consistently warns us: envy was behind Joseph’s betrayal, Saul’s pursuit of David, and now the handing over of Christ. Envy is powerful enough to crucify the Lord of glory.
(2) A Pagan’s Wife, A Clear Warning
While Pilate sits on the judgment seat, his wife sends an urgent message:
Matthew 27:19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” (ESV)
Even through a troubling dream, a surprising witness (the trial judge’s wife) testifies to Jesus’ innocence. Notice the irony:
A Roman governor discerns envy.
A Gentile woman calls Jesus “righteous.”
Religious leaders stir the crowd to demand murder.
Truth shines in unexpected places, while those closest to Scripture close their eyes. God, in His mercy, sends warning after warning. Yet envy deafens the soul. Are traces of envy, however big or small, affecting you at all today?
(3) The Crowd Persuaded
Verse 20 reveals deliberate manipulation:
“Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd…” (Matthew 27:20)
Envy is rarely private. It recruits others. It spreads. It influences public opinion. The leaders stir the crowd to choose Barabbas and “destroy Jesus.”
Envy prefers a guilty rebel over a righteous Savior. Why? Because Barabbas does not threaten their pride.
(4) The Greater Surprise
The greatest surprise is not that envy condemned Jesus—it is that God used it for redemption. What envy intended for evil, God ordained for salvation. The cross was not an accident of politics but the plan of God. Even sinful motives fulfilled divine purposes.
Jesus was condemned by envy so that we, though guilty, might be justified by grace.
(5) Heart Application
This passage invites sober reflection:
- Where has envy quietly shaped my attitudes?
- Do I resent the gifts, influence, or fruit God has given others?
- Have I cloaked jealousy in spiritual language?
Envy minimizes Christ and magnifies self. The gospel does the opposite. At the cross, we see: The ugliness of human envy. The beauty of divine mercy. Christ did not retaliate against His envious accusers. He bore their sin—and ours.
Prayer
Lord, search our hearts. Expose envy before it takes root. Teach us to rejoice in Your will for others. Thank You that even when envy condemned Your Son, Your grace triumphed. Keep us near the cross, where pride dies and love reigns. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 09/03/2026 星期一. 马太福音 27 嫉妒的力量：出人意料的定罪
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mat/27/
QT 2026年3月9日 周一 马太福音27章 嫉妒的力量：出人意料的定罪
阅读 http://www.esv.org/matthew27
嫉妒的力量可能驱使人迫害甚至杀害他人，正如耶稣时代的群众所行。切勿低估嫉妒的破坏力——它可能在你心中滋生，即便在今日亦然。如何识别并应对？
《马太福音》第27章将我们带入彼拉多紧张的审判庭。宗教领袖将耶稣押解至罗马，企图处决祂。然而马太揭示了惊人真相：
“他知道他们是因为嫉妒才把耶稣交了来。”（27:18）
彼拉多——这位不信神的异教统治者——洞察到宗教领袖们拒绝承认的事实：嫉妒正驱使着这场审判。
(1) 嫉妒的隐蔽力量
嫉妒狡猾如蛇。它伪装成对真理、道德或秩序的关切。祭司长们很可能以守护传统或保卫国家为名行恶。但宗教话语之下，是赤裸裸的嫉妒。
- 耶稣威胁了他们的权威。
- 耶稣揭露了他们的伪善。
- 耶稣吸引着他们渴求的群众。
嫉妒使宗教领袖沦为阴谋家。那些托付圣经之人竟被攀比与怨恨所操控，这令人警醒。嫉妒不仅扭曲判断——更能使人心刚硬到谴责无辜的地步。
圣经一再警示我们：约瑟遭背叛、扫罗追杀大卫、如今基督被交出，背后皆是嫉妒作祟。这嫉妒之毒足以将荣耀的主钉上十字架。
(2) 外邦妇人的警示
彼拉多坐在审判席上时，妻子急忙派人传话：
马太福音27:19 彼拉多坐在审判台上的时候，他的夫人派人来说：“你不要干涉这个义人的事，因为昨夜我在梦中因他受了很多的苦。”
即便通过惊悚的梦境，一位意外的见证人（审判官之妻）仍为耶稣的无辜作证。请注意其中的讽刺：
- 罗马总督察觉了嫉妒。
- 外邦妇人称耶稣为“义人”。
- 宗教领袖煽动群众要求处死。
真理在意外之处闪耀，而最接近圣经的人却闭目不视。神以怜悯发出次次警告，但嫉妒却令灵魂失聪。今日，无论大小，嫉妒的痕迹是否正影响着你？
(3) 煽动民众
第20节揭示了蓄意的操纵及煽动：
“祭司长和长老怂恿群众，叫他们去要求释放巴拉巴，除掉耶稣。”（马太福音27:20）
嫉妒鲜少独行。它招募同谋，蔓延扩散，左右舆论。领袖们煽动民众选择巴拉巴，“除掉耶稣”。
嫉妒宁可选择有罪的叛徒，也不愿接纳公义的救主。为何？因巴拉巴不会威胁他们的骄傲。
(4) 更大的惊喜
最令人惊奇的并非嫉妒定罪了耶稣——而是上帝竟借此成就救赎。嫉妒意图作恶，上帝却命定为救恩。十字架并非政治意外，乃是上帝的计划。纵使出于罪恶动机，终究成就了神圣旨意。
耶稣因嫉妒受审判，为要使我们虽有罪咎，却因恩典称义。
(5) 应用
这段经文邀请我们严肃反思：
- 嫉妒何时悄然扭曲了我的态度？
- 我是否怨恨神赐予他人的恩赐、影响或果效？
- 我是否用属灵话语掩饰嫉妒？
嫉妒贬低基督，抬高自我。福音恰恰相反。在十字架上，我们看见：人类嫉妒的丑陋，神圣怜悯的美善。基督未曾报复那些嫉妒控告祂的人，反而担当了他们的罪——以及我们的罪。
祷告
主啊，求祢察验我们的心。在嫉妒生根前将其显明。教导我们为祢赐予他人的旨意欢喜。感谢祢，纵使嫉妒定祢儿子的罪，祢的恩典仍得胜。求祢使我们常近十字架，让骄傲在此消亡，爱在此掌权。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。
