Hypocrisy and What We Do About It....

Hypocrisy. What’s behind this act of will we all participate in? First off, let’s define it. Hypocrisy is when someone behaves in a manner that contradicts the words they proclaim. They really don’t believe what they say, they only say it to gain attention, or “look good” towards others. They are pretenders, fakes, false teachers, and the like. On the same end of the spectrum, when someone acts in a manner that contradicts what they say, but they still side with the truth, it’s not hypocrisy, rather it’s failure to abide in the Spirit of God. You can tell the difference between a real hypocrite and an “apparent hypocrite” by how they respond to being called out. The AP (apparent hypocrite) will admit their failure and try to make right what they messed up. The real hypocrite will try to justify their stance and start blaming others. The underlying principle here is true and real hypocrisy is when an individual fears man more than fears God. He is more concerned with his external appearance, his reputation, his honor, himself, more than he’s concerned about his internal state of being. So many people today put all of their time and effort into developing their outsides, that their insides atrophy due to neglect. I’m guilty of doing this at times. I fall pray to focusing on myself at the expense of others. But for some reason, I don’t stay there too long. God has given me a spirit that will fight for justice and doing the right thing. Even if I don’t “feel like it”, I know it has to be done, so I do it. I’m so grateful for those God has placed in my life to be reminders that my insides matter more than my outsides. Even if that hurts a little when I’m told my behavior isn’t adding up. How about you?

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law–justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy–full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs–beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.35 As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time–from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation. Matthew 23:23-36