WORKS THAT CAUSE DIVISION (2)
Galatians 5:19-21

INTRODUCTION--

1. At this point in our ongoing study, it would be well to remind ourselves that it is not simply an exercise in religious education. The evil traits that Paul lists are able to rob those who have them of eternal life.
   
2. Like the last lesson, we group traits together that seem to have a connection.
   
   1. First we will compare JEALOUSIES (ÿs) and ENVYINGS (fyonov).
      
   2. Then we combine FACTIONS (eriyeia), DIVISIONS (dicostasia), and PARTIES ('airesiv) in the second part of the study.
      

LESSON--

1. JEALOUSIES and ENVYINGS. ("These words have to be taken together, because they so often occur together [in Greek literature, that is]....ZELOS has a good and bad sense, while PHTHRONOS is always bad." Barclay, Flesh and Spirit, p. 45).
   
   1. We learned in our first lesson on "Works that Cause Division" that the Greeks, because of their worldly philosophy, found virtues in such things as ENMITIES, STRIFE, and WRATHS.
      
      1. The Holy Spirit guided the Apostles and Prophets of the New Testament to reject any "virtue" in any of these "works of the flesh, and they used none of the words in a good sense.
         
      2. This is also true of the word PHTHRONOS (envyings).
         
      3. With ZELOS, however, there is a good sense of its use by NT writers.
         
         1. The King James Version has the word EMULATIONS, defined in Webster to mean "ambition or endeavor to equal or excel: rivalry."
            
            1. In this sense, Paul sought to "provoke (Jews) to jealousy" by "glorifying his ministry to the Gentiles," in order to "save some of them." Romans 11:13-14 "But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry; if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them." (NOTE: We can see this same zeal in those who see others in possession of spiritual blessings, and their "jealousy" moves them to "emulate" them.)
               
            2. Paul also commended the Corinthians for their "zeal" in desiring to "clear themselves" of their indifference to sin in their midst, and to be "pure in the matter." 2 Corinthians 7:11 (NOTE: This "emulation" rose from the "ambition" to meet the high standard of morality set by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:2-5. He said, "And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing, in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
               
            3. Emulations (zeal) can lead, however, to "strife" and a sectarian spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 "....ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men? For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not men?"
               
         2. A secondary sense of ZELOS is found in the attempt to put right that which seems to have been corrupted. Ardor, eagerness, and enthu siasm are found in the reformer.
            
            1. In this type of zeal Christ cleansed the Temple. John 2:13-17 "And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables; and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for thy house shall eat me up."
               
            2. Paul, before his conversion, zealously persecuted the church . Philippians 3:6a "...as touching zeal, persecuting the church;"
               
         3. How does ZEAL turn from good to evil?
            
            1. First, zeal is noble, according to Barclay. (Citing Aristotle's use of the word, he says, "....It is the feeling which comes to a man when he sees some one else in possession of some noble thing. That feeling is not sorry that the other person possesses a fine thing; it is sorry that it itself does not. It is a virtue and characteristic of a virtuous man. There is no grudging in it; but there is the spur to a noble ambition to possess a virtue which has been glimpsed but not possessed." p. 47)
               
            2. When, however, noble zeal finds that emulation of others only gets one to a place where he finds that his rival has in turn gone one to another noble deed, his zeal can turn to envy (PHTHRO-NOS), defined by Barclay as "a kind of pain at the sight of good fo rtune...The man who has PHTHRONOS in his heart is not fired with noble ambition; he is simply embittered at the sight of someone else possessing what he himself has not got, and he would do his utmost, not to possess the thing, but to prevent the other person from possessing it." p. 47)
               
   2. Among Christians, both the zeal that borders on begrudging bitterness, and the resulting envy, are to be unknown.
      
      1. We must rather "walk becomingly," in view of our approaching destiny. Romans 13:11-14 "And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
         
         1. Paul is using ZELOS here to make us aware that if we walk in the things characteristic of darkness, it will jeopardize our hope.
            
         2. The "armor of light" protects us from the subtle works of the flesh.
            
      2. We must avoid the ignorant zeal characteristic of the Jews. Romans 10:1-4 "Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth."
         
      3. Finally, zeal can degenerate into overt strife. James 3:13-18 "Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter jealousy (ZELOS) and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace."
         
   3. Envy (PHTHRONOS), in its antagonism to others, is foreign to the spirit of Christ. Philippians 1:12-18 "Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the pro-gress of the gospel; so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest; and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abun-dantly bold to speak the word of God without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel; but the other pro claim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds. What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."
      
      1. Paul's imprisonment frustrated him to a degree, because it stifled his ambition (zeal?) to spread the Gospel to the whole world.
         
         1. It was an "easy" captivity, however.
            
            1. Acts 28:30-31 "And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him."
               
            2. Compare Vs. 23---"And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening."
               
         2. The Praetorian Guard, the Emperor's personal troops, guarded Paul, because he had appealed his case to Caesar, and their constant exposure to his teaching made some converts amonth them.
            
         3. Many "brethren in the Lord" observed the way that Paul used his imprisonment for advancing the cause, and were "more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear."
            
      2. Among the preachers, two different motivations prevailed.
         
         1. Those who envied Paul, and his great success, preached Christ out of a spirit of faction, hoping to make things harder for Paul, yet the mere fact that they were preaching Christ caused Paul to rejoice.
            
         2. Those who preached Christ "of good will" did so in the realization that Paul was "set for the defense of the Gospel," and his boldness motivated them to imitate him in love for him.
            
      3. We must not forget that Pontius Pilate perceived that the rulers of the Jews delivered Christ to death "for envy," and tried to release him in honor of the custom of amnesty for that season. (Matthew 27:11-18)
         
         1. Because of their envy of Christ, the rulers of the Jews had issued threats against those who were inclined to believe in Him. John 9:18 22 "The Jews therefore did not believe.....that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see? His parents answered and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself. These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue."
            
         2. This attitude is seen in churches today that threaten "excommuni cation" against those who will not fall into line with their opinions and prejudices.

(Lesson to be continued next time)