The Beginning of Hatred
Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing."
GENESIS 27:36
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The Beginning of Hatred
With these words [Esau] lies most shamefully by saying that he is the firstborn when he is not and by saying that the birthright which he previously had given up voluntarily belongs to him. . .. He does not say: "I have sinned. Until now I did not realize and did not understand that I sinned. Now I am being taught by the punishment itself and by God's judgment. Now it is time to acknowledge my sin; for I realize that God has been horribly offended by my sale, by my contempt. But I do not begrudge my brother this blessing. No, I am sincerely fond of him, and I am glad that he got this blessing. I have sinned, and I am heartily sorry, not so much because the blessing has been lost as because God's wrath has been stirred up against me." He does not say or think this at all. Indeed, he glories in his wickedness. "I am righteous; my brother is wicked. He has fraudulently taken away what belongs to me, and he has possession of what does not belong to him. May this turn out badly for him!" In this manner he condemns the righteousness of another and defends his own sin. Finally he conceives horrible hatred for his brother, begrudges him the grace which God has bestowed on him and which he himself has lost in a lawful way and by his own fault. Over and above this, he threatens him with death. Truly a fine repentance!
GENESIS 27:36
+
The Beginning of Hatred
With these words [Esau] lies most shamefully by saying that he is the firstborn when he is not and by saying that the birthright which he previously had given up voluntarily belongs to him. . .. He does not say: "I have sinned. Until now I did not realize and did not understand that I sinned. Now I am being taught by the punishment itself and by God's judgment. Now it is time to acknowledge my sin; for I realize that God has been horribly offended by my sale, by my contempt. But I do not begrudge my brother this blessing. No, I am sincerely fond of him, and I am glad that he got this blessing. I have sinned, and I am heartily sorry, not so much because the blessing has been lost as because God's wrath has been stirred up against me." He does not say or think this at all. Indeed, he glories in his wickedness. "I am righteous; my brother is wicked. He has fraudulently taken away what belongs to me, and he has possession of what does not belong to him. May this turn out badly for him!" In this manner he condemns the righteousness of another and defends his own sin. Finally he conceives horrible hatred for his brother, begrudges him the grace which God has bestowed on him and which he himself has lost in a lawful way and by his own fault. Over and above this, he threatens him with death. Truly a fine repentance!
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