Would Jesus call you ‘hypocrite’?
Sometimes I read the word of God and it just hits me with a 2 x 4. Ouch! That’s what it’s like reading through the Sermon on the Mount. Right off the bat, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:20, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
What was wrong with the scribes and Pharisees? Jesus called them hypocrites because their example and teachings kept people away from God.
The word “hypocrite” was used at that time for stage actors in Greece and Rome who wore masks to reflect particular moods and emotions. The audience never saw the real person. They witnessed only what the mask portrayed.
In the same way, scribes and Pharisees wore “holy masks,” while underneath they were anything but holy!
You and I need to ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts. Ask, “Holy Spirit, am I hypocritical in any way?” In some ways, we are all actors and, for that, we need to repent and ask the Lord to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
However, it’s not hypocritical to be nice to someone you don’t like. That’s obedience. God tells us to “love the unlovely,”and we don’t go by our feelings. On the other hand, if you are nice to that person’s face and tear them apart behind their back, you’re a hypocrite. If we act one way at home and another at church, that’s hypocritical.
A true Christian should be kinder to the person no one likes than the person everyone is falling all over. Why? Because he or she needs their kindness more.
We sing songs in church like, “I Surrender All” but do we? Do we even want to, or are we happy the way we are? We read verses like “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors,” but do we really?
Have you forgiven those who have wounded you or offend you on a regular basis? Jesus didn’t call the adulterers, the thieves, the drunks and liars “hypocrite.” No, He saved this harshest criticism for the religious church people of His day! I ask myself, “Don’t we all wear masks sometimes? Is it realistic to think that our heart can match what we portray on the outside? Can we truly be righteous inside and out?” And the answer is ABSOLUTELY YES!
If it weren’t possible, Jesus would never require it of us. What He requires He supplies. How does He do it? By coming to live inside of us, by filling us with His Holy Spirit, filling us with all righteousness. The Sermon on the Mount is only an impossible standard for us to live by if we refuse to let Jesus be Lord of our lives.
I don’t know about you; I can only speak for myself. I know there are a number of areas in my life that He isn’t Lord over because I haven’t let Him be. But I long for that to change, and I’m working on it.
I want the qualities found in the Sermon on the Mount to be a reality in my life and even in the areas I don’t think I want it. I’m willing to pray, “Lord make me willing to be willing.”
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Thank you Apostle,
The Bible has a lot to say about our heart’s ,
the book of Jeremiah, says there is one thing more untrustworthy than anything else, “The Heart” !
Jeremiah 17:9 says that it is “deceitful above all things.” certainly not a pleasant thought !!
One translation says our hearts are “desperately wicked.” who wants to think about that ,
In fact, there was a point in history where the human race had become so corrupt ,
the Bible says that all the people’s thoughts were pure evil, all evil, all the time (Genesis 6:5).
Our hearts can become quite hardened, even dull, sometimes blind, darkened, foolish, rebellious, and unrepentant, just to name a few !!
Even the good things we do are often stained and soiled with wrong motives & intentions ,
because, please be aware, “SELFLESS” acts are not always selfless !!
We simply can’t deceive ourselves into thinking we are something we are not, no one is immune to it !
The heart, when left to itself, has little choice but to become one, or any combination of these-
Unclean ! Capable of conceiving and carrying out all sorts of evil thoughts and deeds !
The most deceitful thing about ourselves ! Untrustworthy ! Stubborn! Unrighteous !
Why? because no one has an accurate view of themselves, we tend to think we’re a little more spiffy than we really are.
You know how it is, “we” are not as bad a they are, us & them , I’m a good person, I’m a Nurse , I’m a School Teacher, I’m a Cop,
I’m a Pastor , I’m a good Dad or a good Mom, I work at Social Services, I’m an advocate for the poor, I work against social injustice!!
I take care of the elderly, I work with under privileged kids, I’m involved in inner city neighborhood programs !!
These, are often how we view our selves , in most cases, they are most likely true, but is that really who we are ?
Again , please understand, God has not, nor will He ever, consider what we think defines us as people !! Very bitter pill to swallow, I know !!!
We simply, do not have clarity and objectivity when we think about ourselves, no matter how good we think we are!
Our estimation, intent and motives are most certainly under the influence of sin , whether it be personal or cultural !!
If we could actually see what is in our hearts it would, most likely, knock us down a few thousand pegs !
Ignoring them & pretending they don’t exist, ( as many do ) , is certainly not going to help matters!
The thoughts & intents of the heart have objectives, reality, and a purpose, all their own !!
There goes I but the grace of God. Speak the word of God boldly without fear, ultimately God gets the glory. It feels like we dressing to meet the bride groom, we adorning our wedding garment. We have to take off, everything that does not match up and put on our his robe. Love it!!!