Do Not Be Hypocritical

Focus: Matthew 23:27-28 - KJV

27. 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. 28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 23:13-28

Hypocrisy is claiming to be who we are not. It is a really weird situation where people recommend things to others that they would never do even though they pretend to. For instance, the laws of Moses made certain things unlawful and inexpedient. Nonetheless, the custodians of the said law would do anything to get the same enforced against others even though they are equally culpable in their own deeds. That was the situation when Christ came into the world. The Pharisees and Sadducees were insistent on doing things the way Moses laid down but the bulk of them would only ask people to do things they did not do themselves. For example, it was okay for them to want to stone to death a woman found in adultery without presenting the male counterpart with whom the act was done, perhaps because he was one of them, and knowing fully well that they were themselves not guiltless. Christ did not spare them in their hypocrisy: He called them out.

Today, by the reason of Christ’s coming, everyone is a “Christian”. Being one is to be like Christ. The testimony of those observed in Antioch before the word was coined, was that they appeared like Christ. Unfortunately, as time went by, those to whom the term is attached are worse than the Pharisees and Sadducees of Christ’s day. They climb the pulpit to speak about Christ and godliness without being godly in the order of Christ. Most of them still live in the order of Moses. Everything that Christ directs is lost on them. They preach forgiveness but never forgive; they preach love but are in no way loving; teach reconciliation but are more judgmental and vengeful than the devil. If we must be real, then we need to obey the commands of Christ and none other. Whenever they are called out, they are quick to find reference in some prophet or poetry in scripture but never the words of Christ. Not because they do not know but because they prefer to avoid it so as to look real. It is better we stick to who we are rather than deceiving everyone around with lies. It is easy to claim we are in God’s business only and never a director or shareholder in any commercial venture but then hold shares and directorship by proxy. A lie remains a lie, forever.

May the Lord forgive us in matters we had presented ourselves as someone that we are not, thereby bringing the name of the Lord whom we claim to serve, into disrepute, in Jesus’ name. We receive the grace to live in righteousness above that of the Pharisees and Sadducees dear Lord, in Jesus’ name. May the name of the Lord always be glorified in our lives and deeds in Jesus’ name.

SOLUTION: Stop claiming to be who you are not. To be Christians, we need to be Christ-like indeed: whatever Christ would not do or approve, let’s not do it.

If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.