We have considered that love is kind , now the writer goes on to highlight seven things that are contrary to love,the first one ,'It does not envy', (v4) the 10th commandment tells we are not to covet (Exodus 20 v17) envy is similar but it has a malignant aspect to it,it can be spiteful, hostile,malicious,evil intentioned,full of hate,vicious,cruel. We read in Matthew 27 v18,that Pilate knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy. This blinded them and filled them with hatred,that bordered on madness and manifested itself in outragious wickedness towards our blessed Saviour,it is far from love.Next we consider, 'that love does not boast', it does not brag,it does it to be heard,it does it to humiliate people.a person I know personally boasted how he prayed and studied the Bible in order to humiliate someone.Jesus told about two men who went up to the temple to pray,one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.The Pharisee stood away from the tax collector,and he prayed,''God, I thank you that I am not like other people,robbers,evildoers,adulterers,or even this tax collector.I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get',(Luke 18 v9ff) Now that's a boaster, one filled with pride,one who despised others.I read recently about a remark made about a certain politician,that she looked down on people.
'Naught have I gotten ,but what I received,
Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed,
Boasting excluded pride I abase,
I'm only a sinner saved by grace'
'Words James Martin Gray'
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