Articles
The Lord Knows Our Hypocrisy!
Jesus condemned hypocrisy. Each of us should, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (II Corinthians 13:5). Are we hypocrites?
Jesus taught that a hypocrite appears to be righteous, but inside they are corrupt. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matthew 23:27-28). Does this describe us?
Jesus also taught that the hypocrite gives only lip service. "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me" (Matthew 15:7-8). The hypocrite is one that puts on a show, appearing to be holy and righteous but are really fakes. God Almighty sees through all that put-on and sees us for what we really are. Is our heart really into serving God or are we just "playing church"?
The Lord taught that a hypocrite is one that is always finding fault with everyone else and yet does not concern himself with his own faults. "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5). Jesus is not teaching that we should not try to help and teach others. Jesus is teaching that we should look to ourselves FIRST - clean up our own house first, then we may help others with their house cleaning.
Jesus was able to see through the hypocrites dishonesty while he was on the earth, and He can see our dishonesty today too! "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites" (Matthew 22:15-18)? Friend, we may try to lay it on thick with compliments, brag on folks, etc. all the while appearing to be someone's friend, and our motive is to take advantage of someone or stabbing them in the back.
Beware! The Lord knows our hypocrisy! Seriously friend, are we hypocrites?
