Hypocrites!

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Jesus Christ
Jesus’s last three days were full of activities; teachings, parables, figurative lessons, rebukes, corrections etc. His entry into Jerusalem, though triumphant as many would describe it, yet it was greeted with much oppositions, plots and questionings.
His main detractors had in the leading role the Pharisees, followed by Scribes, Sadducees and hypocrites! We know Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees. Who were hypocrites? I think, lest someone today think that what Jesus said about these groups of people did not apply to him or her, Jesus grouped such that do the same things as the Pharisees and Sadducees as hypocrites. “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” Jesus declared.
Pharisees, Scribes, Chief Priest, elders, Sadducees in the days of Jesus all had the same thing in common and could be described by the same word – hypocrites. You only need to know what they did to agree with Jesus that they were rightly described as hypocrites. The discussions of Chapter 21:12-23 of Matthew were all in the Temple. Its implication is that it was addressed to religious people. It was to people who professed the knowledge of God that it was addressed. Therefore, this same issues are addressed to each one of us today who profess the knowledge of God and of His Son, Jesus Christ. Is it possible there are hypocrites among these so-called people? Jesus Christ did not reject the notion. There may be people whose works are very similar to those of these people to whom Jesus pronounced “Woe unto you.”
For lack of space, I cannot enumerate all the works of these hypocrites but it is summarized in the text above. It is worth repeating for emphasis, “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” However, let me highlight a few of the works of these people for your consideration:
1. Hypocrites profess but don’t practice Vs 3. Unlike Jesus Christ who preached what He practiced, hypocrites support the views of Scriptural truth but do not do them. Someone said, “What you do reveals what you really believe.” When these hypocrites preach, say something or present something as truth of Scripture and do otherwise, they declare what they really believe. They declare by their works that they do not believe the Word of God but some other ideas. Practice is the only thing that ratifies faith. Faith that is not backed with works is dead. Whereas works reveal something of what is believed, an inner conviction about anything cannot be revealed except by works. Friends, may I ask you, ‘What does your work reveal?’ Does it show you really are a follower of the Word of Christ or a hypocrite?
2. Hypocrites project forms of religion and make a show of it Vs 5. Whatever is done by these hypocrites, it is to gain the attention of others. They deliberately do acts of righteousness to make people see them. The Lord spoke about these acts of righteousness in Matthew 5. Giving, Praying and Fasting are among the acts of righteousness that have reward with God. Jesus told us clearly not to do these things to gain the attention, approval and applause of men. Those who do such already have their rewards, but never from God. But hypocrites love to be noticed by men. They are satisfied with the fading and temporal reward that men can give for their ‘sacrifices’. They love the applause of men; they love to be called by big titles, they love to sit in the best places during religious gatherings, they love to be greeted specially by those not in their class. Even though they do not deserve such accolades, yet they rejoice that those who are more deserving heap such gratifications on them. Not knowing that finally they shall be humbled, yeah, humiliated in the end, they presently eat up the praise of men.
3. Hypocrites honour traditions over obedience Vs 23. Our admonitions in the Church today have centered on issues that deal with earthly prosperity. Since these things are profitable and pleasurable to many, they have spread widely, prospered tremendously and prevailed to our shame. Moral issues have been largely sidelined, subdued and altogether silenced. Our society no longer feels the impact of the righteous, therefore wickedness thrives and has become the norm. Ceremonial concerns far outweigh moral issues among today’s saints. By these we have joined hands with the hypocrites of those days and have become one with them. Shall we say ‘Woe unto us’? ‘God forbid’ is your quick response but how shall we escape the same damnation if we do not repent of substituting the requirements of God for the satisfaction of our ungodly appetites?
The Lord rebuked this hypocrisy again in Mark 7:6-9. He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
While those traditions are not wrong in themselves, the Lord wants the horse before the cart. Obedience to love must go before every other demands.
There are many words Jesus used to describes these groups of people -hypocrites. He called them blind guides (vs 16) for they themselves do not know where they are going, yet they intend to lead others. They are fools (vs 17) for their lack of understanding and insight into the requirements of God. They have rejected the truth and have become fools. They are serpents and vipers (vs 33) because they are dangerous and deadly. Those who follow them are heading toward destruction as they are. They are willing to kill and destroy those who reject their ways. Through subtlety and deceit they betray and persecute the true saints handing them over to be killed. These are the ways of hypocrites. But they shall not escape the judgment of God.
Hypocrites are those who love outward display rather than inner prosperity. They rejoice in positive opinion of people more than the approval of God. For the Scripture says, men look on the outward appearance but God on the inward. Those who love the praise of men at the expense of the comforting witness of the Holy Spirit of true sonship are hypocrites. They would rather be in the good books of men than to please God at whatever cost. They rejoice in what God condemns as long as they have a ‘like’ or ‘thumbs up’.
As we go through this season of Easter, may we prioritize the concerns of the Messiah prior to his death though in reality they are His eternal concerns. May we not rejoice in what made him sorrowful. May we not be hypocrites or remain as one. Amen.
By http://daytimearmourbearers.org/