29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
full of
The phrase “full of” sets forth another list of sins and another stage of the argument.
envy,
“Envy” is the desire to deprive others of what they have. The Greek word used here is a stronger term than the other Greek word for envy (simply the desire to have what others have). This word not only desires what others have but seeks to deprive them of what they have. This kind of evil directs itself toward people.
PRINCIPLE:
Grudging envy is more pervasive than normal envy.
APPLICATION:
People who carry envy with them resent others for having what they themselves do not have. It is a desire to do them harm. The envious person is not moved by the greatness of others but resents their achievements. He feels pain at the success of others. When he hears that someone got a promotion, the envious person makes derogatory remarks about his success.
Envy is a form of praise in that others desire what we have. It also implies inferiority by the person who feels envy toward someone else. After a man makes a mark on the world, there are always those who will come with their erasers.
Closed shop in religion carried this kind of envy toward Jesus:
Mt 27:18, For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
