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with God

Matt 27:17-18 & 20

17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

Have you every wondered why the priest and elders had Jesus crucified? The answer we find in today's devotional. "because of envy"

The definition of envy is: the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others.

In other words the religious leaders saw that others followed Jesus and listened to His teaching. The reason people did was because Jesus not only taught them but also practiced what He preached.
Where as the religious leaders taught but did not do, or even help those who were struggling in sin.

Matt 23:1-4 (NLT) 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. 3 So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. 4 They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden.

What is even worse is the fact that these religious leaders persuaded the crowd to reject Jesus and accept a murderer.

So don't always follow the crowd or the way that other Christians may live.
Rather follow the teachings of Jesus and the way He lived.

Matt 20:28 (NLT) For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

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