Hypocrite

I cringe at this whole devotional, it is hard for me to write! You know that saying, “Just do as I say, not as I do?” That’s the perfect hypocritical statement. We’ve heard from people and seen evidence of it in our lives. We may think “What a hypocrite,” and rightly so, but don’t pass judgment too quickly, because those pangs of guilt may come your way too. If you don’t want to read this devotional, that is your right but know it is not aimed at hurting you but helping you because in writing it I helped a hypocrite, me.
    
A hypocrite is something many people understand even if they can’t say or spell the word. A hypocrite is probably one of the most demeaning words someone can say to another person and you will hardly ever hear someone say it about themselves. A person who is a hypocrite is a pretender, a phony, a fraud, a deceiver and they are probably pretty good at it, using all the right words and all the right body language, wearing the right clothes. We may have seen it in people when they didn’t think no one was looking but where did all this come from? It isn’t God’s design is it? Hypocrisy is a problem in life and in our churches and within ourselves and while we cannot change another person, God surely can and can use even other people, even sinners and hypocrites to find this out, I know because at times, I am one myself and that is to my shame.
    
The first time we see a hypocrite is slithering in the Garden of Eden, deceiving innocent Eve, but the slithering hypocrite wasn’t always so slimy. He was once an angel, not just any angel but cherubim that guarded the throne of God. He had a name, Lucifer and he had a talent that God gave Him and that was to sing. Oh, how he could sing and probably use words very skillfully and artfully with that voice! The God created had free-will too but were subject to Him. Lucifer after watching God create the Heaven and Earth in six days decides he can be like God, after all, he watched him do it. But Lucifer didn’t have the power to create anything like God, but He could create discord and use his words to his advantage, and that he did. He lured a third of the angels to his side. Can you imagine how God felt? Here are these beautiful beings created in harmony and in utopia to worship God and to help Him out with the world only want glory and their own prideful ways. Some phonies they were. God couldn’t let that be around Him, so He throws Satan and the angels out, being fallen angels and losing their battle they have their own kingdom now which isn’t beautiful or idyllic, but it is there for people to spend eternity in, who have done the same things Satan did and hypocrisy is the name of the game today.
    
We may point out people on TV who are hypocrites or people in our community, that may be easy or sadly even fun to do, calling people out on their deceit but Jesus took it seriously and so should we. In fact, besides some passages in the Old Testament, Jesus is the only one in the New Testament that went about calling people hypocrites. We think well, if we are to be like Jesus, maybe I should call out a few too. Whoa, not so fast. Back it up and take a good look at yourself and think, ‘Do I know their heart?’ We can’t know anyone’s inner most thoughts, but God does. Jesus did too and proceeded to call those “do as I say and not as I do” people out on their phoniness. No one can be fake with God. Jesus walked the walk and talked the talk and pointed out people who were thinking they were somebody, but Jesus put them in their place. “Jesus said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 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 23:25-28.” These men were religious leaders full of tradition and rules. They were trying to push their wants and power on others for their gain. Sound familiar? There have been leaders like this (religious, political and popular) for millennia. Jesus told them that on the outside they looked nice and clean but, on the inside, they are unclean and full of ugliness. We may inwardly laugh and point and say, “Go Jesus, get them” but what about you and I? Hypocrisy is a problem among many people, even those who “mean” well. This woman was caught in an act that deemed to be put to death but the people who condemned her were doing what they thought was right, but Jesus was with them this time and that made the whole difference. “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. John 8:7-9.” How many times have we picked up stones to hurl at others? Probably not that many but what about the words we hurl? The old saying that says “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a lie. Words will cut and hurt longer than any bruise or cut, those heal but hurtful words leave an open fresh wound for some time. As the Bible says; “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1.” We are quick to be defensive when someone hurts our feelings. Just like Peter when Jesus told him he would deny him three times. Peter adamantly denies that it hurts his feelings, but Jesus knows his heart. “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.” Everyone was behind Peter in his bold admission trying to tell Jesus he was wrong, but let’s see what happened. When Jesus was arrested was it was the time to prove the disciples…. “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” ... Peter stayed around after everyone left, he was determined to be the best one of them all! “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:33-35, 56,69-75.” Jesus words came true just like He said. Peter acted like a hypocrite towards those people who knew he was around Jesus. Peter said he wasn’t with Jesus when indeed he was. Peter denied knowing Jesus, the same man who said he was ready to die with Him is now not even willing to acknowledge his friendship with the Son of God. We may fall into the same trap Peter did. On Sundays we’re like Peter with Jesus, “I will never deny you, Jesus I love you.” But then the rest of the week rolls around and we act like denying Peter. “Who? Jesus? Christian, me?” Showing others who we are truly serving, our selfish needs. You may say, “I’m not like those Pharisees who lead others to astray!” But people watch our example of being a Christian. We’ve heard others say, “Well, if that’s a Christian, I don’t want to be one!” Wonder if they say that about us? It is easy for us to slip into our old ways and people seeing a side of us we aren’t proud of. The devil is working hard to ruin our testimony. As the Bible says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1 Timothy 4:1,2.” When we see people living in the world but trying to hold hands with God it isn’t going to work. They’ve been doing it so long they can’t see the hypocrisy and the pain it causes themselves and others. T It’s going to be a disaster and not in our favor either. As the Bible says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4.” The Pharisees tried to play the game, Lucifer tried to play the game, and many Christians sadly try to play the game too. We may use our words correctly but if our heart isn’t there, it doesn’t mean anything. Paul tells us about having charity which is a pure love without wanting anything in return. He gives us this sobering phrase, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1,2.”  Without doing things out of love and care for God’s people and creation we are just doing for reasons that are not of God. We could be doing these things for attention, to make ourselves feel good, or to have a tax-right off. We do not need to let our love for people fade but let God’s love shine through. James who is the half-brother of Jesus says, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:14-17.” If we have bitterness and strife in our hearts we should get right with God as soon as possible. God wants us to use wisdom, well, wisely! God’s wisdom that He gives us doesn’t have an ounce of sin in it. It is pure, peaceable, gentle and easy to be asked for, is merciful, has the fruits of the spirit, isn’t biased and not double sided. Hypocrisy, the act of being a hypocrite is not using good judgment or wisdom. It is a blatant disregard for God’s care and love. The Bible says in Isaiah 32:6-7, “For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. The instruments also of the churl (impolite and mean spirited people) are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.” Hypocrites are destructive of themselves and others. After a while of lying to themselves and others it becomes easier and easier to live the life of a hypocrite. Before you know it, the hypocrite may have fooled everyone but God and is not fooled.
    
Many times, a hypocrite can be discovered by the way they talk about others, and many of us are guilty of pushing people down with our words instead of pulling them up with prayer. Jesus spoke out against hypocrites by pointing out their errors. “And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:39-42,46.” Jesus kind of told off the Peter’s that spoke well in His presence but denied Him in His absence. He even says the disciple is not above his master. The disciple Peter thought he could prove Jesus wrong but of course we know He didn’t. People who are hypocrites are more worried about what’s wrong with others than what’s wrong in their own lives. Hypocrites tend to have followers that are hypocrites too like a whole “monkey see, monkey do” type of thing.

We need to focus on others in love not in hate. “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. Proverbs 11:9.” Let us not try to pick out the small details when we got bigger problems, confidence in God and the person He has made us to be. Many people out there destroy others to make themselves feel good and that is exactly what Lucifer did. Lucifer was a hypocrite of the highest degree and even then, he didn’t fool God. Everyone has a choice and the angels made theirs and ended up with hell, literally. Hypocrisy can make one go to Hell if they haven’t accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Hypocrisy can blind a person to believe they got it all together when in reality they don’t. Like the Pharisees they have all the right words, all the right phrases, go to all the right places but their heart isn’t trusting in Jesus and they are two faced. As this quote says, “We Christians too often substitute prayer for playing the game. Prayer is good; but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but a blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism...To your knees, man! and to your Bible! Decide at once! Don't hedge! Time flies! Cease your insults to God, quit consulting flesh and blood. Stop your lame, lying, and cowardly excuses. Enlist!-C.T Studd.” Open God’s word and seek His wisdom and love not the world’s applause and pleasure.
    
It is our own responsibility to know we have surrendered our lives to Christ as our Lord and Savior. Just as Paul says,“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2.” He wasn’t a busy-body, he knew that Jesus was the only one who could save him from Hell. He even said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15.” Jesus came for sinners, He came for everyone, even the self-righteous that find themselves embedded in hypocrisy and lies.  I pray you have found Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He is just a prayer away that involves the individual to put themselves second and Jesus first for His love and sacrifice.
    
If you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have admittance to Heaven through His blood. However, there is one question you need to answer, ‘Are you living as you know Him or are you just passing through?’

If you have judged others unfairly, judge yourself at the feet of Jesus and ask forgiveness and start changing your mindset of picking out people’s sticks when we got our own lumber yard to deal with. Let God handle your problems and the problems of others as well. “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:4-9.” God forgive the greatest sinner and the least, but don’t go unforgiven and unrepentant. Live a life full of joy with your sins confessed and your life forever changed by the Savior not swayed by people's’ opinions and words. Be forgiven, be changed, forgive others and see the change!

Don’t be a hateful hypocrite in hell; be honest and happy in Heaven!