The Lord does not want His children to live as hypocrites, and the scriptures provide us with many examples of what a hypocrite looks like to avoid being one!
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. Proverbs 11:9
The above scripture gives us insight about what makes a hypocrite. Hypocrites may act like they are on a person’s side, but, in reality, that is not how they feel. As a matter of fact, they may use their words to destroy their neighbors by gossiping and backbiting. A hypocrite wants to have their cake and eat it too. They are not interested in changing their views and feelings about a person, but, at the same time, they do not want to lose the relationship or the privilege.
On the other hand, a righteous person is look for personal growth and change. They don’t act a part but are genuine. As a matter of fact, the scripture tells us love covers over a multitude of sins (See 1Peter 4:8). A righteous person has learned the skill of not getting tempted to say something behind someone’s back if they are not willing to tell them to their face. A righteous person comes from a place of love and cares for others. They don’t see themselves as better than others but continue to gain knowledge and understanding.
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:5
Hypocrites have all the right answers and act like they get it right all the time. They can be quick to judge a situation and think they can see things clearly because they are prophetic! However, the above verse reminds us that it is important for every person to see their own flaws and issues and not dismiss them or ignore them.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Matthew 23:13
Hypocrisy was a big problem with the religious people of Jesus’ day who were quick to put burdens on other people and create hard conditions for their acceptance to the Kingdom of God. They were seen as the gate keepers to the Kingdom of God, but they themselves missed out on the truth that could have set them free. Not only were they not able to enter the Kingdom of God, but also they kept people from going in by creating ungodly expectations and standards that were burdensome and oppressive.
The lesson for all of us is that we should not let people put on a burden on us that is not Biblical, but it is only someone’s preference or interpretation of truth. I have heard so many times people who just parrot a leader as if the person has quoted a scripture. They are not looking and checking the Bible for themselves to see if what the person said is in the Bible or not. Please don’t take anyone’s words as the word of God unless you know it comes right out of the Bible. If someone shares something that sounds good, but you are not certain if it is in the Bible or not, then ask them for their sources. We should be watchful and thoughtful with what we take in and not be passive about it.
On the other hand, as a leader we need to be careful to differentiate our preference/opinion from Biblical truth and its interpretation of it. If it is our interpretation, it is more honest to state it rather than acting like the scripture can only be interpreted our way. We all need to acknowledge that none of us are perfect and that we could have planks in our eyes where it stops us to see ourselves, scriptures, and others clearly. This is not a sign of weakness but strength.
We cannot run around and act like we are Jesus when are not. There is only one Jesus who was perfect and who came to die for the sin of humanity. The rest of us are doing His work the best we can, but we realize we are not going to get it right all the time.That could eliminate much hypocrisy in the lives of the believers.
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