False Tags

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | Kelley Bachtel

Matthew 20-21

When I was a teenager, I wanted a Dooney & Bourke purse so badly because all the “cool kids” had one. It was a point of envy, but I didn’t recognize it. My family set out to find the best knock-off as a present for me. By outward appearance, it looked the part, but I knew real Dooney’s had a small tag on the inside. Guess what? No tag! So, I did what any other girl would do and crafted the best tag I could to make it appear like the real deal. As I reflect on this now, I can’t help but think about how ridiculous it was.

As I read Matthew 20 and 21, jealousy displays itself as the root issue at hand. The vineyard workers were riddled with jealousy because the payment they agreed upon seemed unfair compared to the workers hired last. Jesus asks, “Are you jealous because I’m generous?” Then James and John’s mother asked Jesus to give her sons positions of honor, and the other disciples became indignant. W. A. Criswell puts it this way: “The fact that the other disciples were angered at James and John shows that they were in heart and spirit no better than the two brothers. … They all wanted the first place.” Lastly, we see the chief priests and scribes in constant indignation toward Jesus. Children were shouting praises because of the wonder-working power of Jesus, and this sparked jealousy and fear in the priests and scribes.

Jealousy often begins with a fear of losing something we value. Do we value our hard work and efforts so much that we judge those who don’t do things the way we do? Do we desire being included in a group so much that we would sew handmade tags into purses?

The chief priests and scribes feared losing their status so much that they missed the Messiah. They would eventually be among those who condemned Him to death and handed Him over to be crucified (Matthew 20:18–19).

So how do we combat jealousy and keep fear from taking root? We reflect the perfect love Christ describes in 1 Corinthians 13:4–6. That kind of love is not self-seeking or envious. Instead, it is patient, kind, and joyful—a love rooted in truth.

Maybe the question isn’t simply, “What am I jealous of?” Maybe it’s, “What am I afraid of losing?"