In the gospel for this morning we read the saddest and most tragic illustration in the world's history of ihe lengths to which the covetous spirit may lead men. For in the last analysis Judas and the Chief Priests and elders were actuated by the same evil motives. For what is envy, after all but the covetous spirit taking control of a man's life. "Thou shalt not covet... " "For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. The astute Roman. the speaker of the last text, was a good judge of character and spoke truly. Pilate knew that for all their trumped-up charges, the real spirit which prompted the Scribes and Pharisees was one of bitter envy. Little they cared about Caesar's dignity, or the safety of his throne against which they accused Jesus of plotting. Little ihey really cared about His claims to divinity. but they envied Him. They envied Him his reputation with the people. They envied Him His marvellous power and authority over the hearts of men. They envied Him. his gracious words, on which men hung so eagerly. words so unlike their own. his deeds of mercy that blessed when they were impotent. his mastery of the Scriptures that had so often confounded them. They envied Him because of His stainless purity, His meek and gentle spirit, Mis transparent sincerity and grace ious holiness.
It is easy to heap reproaches upon these men and to despise them because of their blind jealousy and the root of their sin is to be found in the hearts of most of us today. Indeed. one wonders if there is any sin common among men today that does not'have an element of this fundamental failing of theirs at the root and source of it. Their tragic failure was written for our learning. Then let us rot be content with passing judgment upon them, but let us take beed lest we fall into the same condemnation. For if envy—the jealous and covetous spirit—once so warped the hearts and minds of men that they crucified the Lord of Glory, we must not expect to find it impotent today. It it has-been doing its deadly evil work through all the centuries we shall not indulge in it now without the gravest danger. Beware of the very appearance of this evil. It begins with discontent and grumbling against one's lot. it goes on to covet and then scheme to obtain the possessions of others. it ends in bitter hate and destruction. As Christ, who was the love of God made manifest, who had gone about doing good, was dying in bitter agony upon the Cross, those chief priests and scribes and elders stood gazing upon Him. and mocking Him cried. "He saved others, Himself He cannot save.."; and the envy of their hearts was gleaming in their eyes. Might we not say then, in the spirit of Saint James,—"Covetousness, when it hath conceived bringeth forth malice, hatred and every other cruelty."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.