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DA20
Not Being Envious, Jealous, or Covetous of Our Neighbor

DA20

We are not to be envious, jealous, or covetous of our neighbor.

Category: Neighbours & Brothers

Type: Negative

Form: Explicit

Source dataset: New Testament

Uniqueness: Not unique

Classical commandment: No

New Covenant Literal Application

Applies to Person Categories: Not specified

Literal Application: Not specified

More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application

The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.

It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.

This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.

Read the full explanation from the source

Bible references

Key NT Scriptures
  • Galatians 5:19-21
  • Galatians 5:26
  • James 3:14-16
  • 1 Peter 2:1
  • Romans 7:7
  • Romans 13:9
  • Romans 13:13
Supportive NT Scriptures
  • Acts 20:33-35
  • Colossians 3:5
  • 2 Corinthians 9:5
  • 2 Corinthians 12:20-21
  • Ephesians 5:3
  • Ephesians 5:5
  • Luke 12:15
  • Mark 7:21-23
  • Romans 1:29
  • Romans 13:8-9
  • 1 Timothy 6:3-4
Supportive OT Scriptures
  • Deuteronomy 5:18
  • Exodus 20:14
  • Micah 2:1-2
  • Proverbs 21:26

Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent

Commentary

Rabbi Michael Rudolph

Envy, jealousy, and covetousness are in some ways the same and in some ways different. All three are the result of dissatisfaction, are triggered by comparing ourselves with others, and are desirous of things that others have that we do not. Typical of such things are physical appearance, status, wealth, possessions, abilities, relationships, privileges, one’s spouse, and many others. The way in which envy and jealousy are different is the “loudness” with which they are expressed. Envy is more of a quiet discontentment that begrudgingly craves something possessed by another, whereas jealousy fears or resents losing something to another that we believe belongs to us. Covetousness is jealousy carried a step further. It is contemplating owning or taking possession of something that belongs to another and resenting the person who possesses what we want. The wrongfulness of taking (or even thinking of taking) something that belongs to another is intuitive and a violation of Torah but why, we may ask, does Scripture command us against envy, jealousy, and covetousness even when we do not bring harm to another? It is because we are to believe with conviction that God has given us that which He wants us to have, and we are therefore to be content with what we have. The Apostle Sha’ul is clear about it in Philippians 4:11 where he wrote: “Not that I am saying this to call attention to any need of mine; since, as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances.” And in Hebrews 13:5, he also wrote: “Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, "I will never fail you or abandon you." Dissatisfaction that results in envy or jealousy is therefore dissatisfaction with God who is the giver of what we have, which is, of course, wrong and a sin.


Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3

Related Law of Messiah commandments

Source and License

Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.

Volume 1 & 2 | Volume 3

License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0

Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.

Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3

Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3

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