Jesus reserved his harshest rebukes for hypocrites. Just read Matthew 23 to see how severe this criticism was. It is important that we understand why.
According to Strong’s dictionary the word hypocrite comes from the Greek word hupokrites and means “an actor under an assumed character (stage-player).” and figuratively means “a dissembler.” A dissembler is one who conceals or disguises the actual nature of his intentions or feelings. In other words, a hypocrite is fake. He ain’t what he appears to be!
Consider Jesus’ words to one of his first disciples, Nathanael. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him he said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” What is guile? Guile means “treacherous cunning or craft; deceit.” Nathanael had none of this in him and he knew it, for he answered Jesus, “How do you know me?” This tells us that we know whether or not we are hypocrites.
Jesus chose twelve disciples in the beginning. Only one of those eleven, Judas Iscariot, was a hypocrite and Jesus knew this when he chose him. The question today is, are you a hypocrite? Am I a hypocrite? How can we know?
Paul teaches us that “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” (1 Cor. 11:31) We judge ourselves according to God’s Word, according to the Scriptures given by his prophets, according to the teaching of the Bible. If we reject the authority of Scripture, then we have no basis by which to judge. Then all we have are “worn arguments and old attitudes” which many Americans “still cling to” according to leaders of the left who wants us all to accept homosexual perversion as normal and acceptable. (Remember, A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. Ecclesiastes 10:2)
These leaders of the left clearly reject the authority of Scripture for they proclaim that it contains nothing but “worn arguments and old attitudes.” Yet, many call themselves “Christian” in order to be accepted by the majority in America. A true Christian, though, is a disciple of Christ, one who accepts Jesus’ teaching and strives to obey it. These leaders of the left want us to accept them as Christian. They want to look like Christians, but they are play-acting. They have assumed characters which they want to portray as Christian. By pretending to be Christian they disguise the actual nature of their intentions and become classic dissemblers, just like the Pharisees two thousand years ago. Thus, the left as a group presents us with manifold examples of the Biblical hypocrite.
Are you a hypocrite? Do you say one thing and always do another? I am not asking whether or not you make the occasional slip into sin. Do you claim the name of Christ and then allow your daughter to live with her boyfriend in your own home? Do you regularly purchase and use illegal drugs? Do you often curse and tell dirty jokes? Do you habitually look at pornography? Do you watch today’s television sitcoms? Do you have grace to watch all the new “R” rated movies in order to find the “prophetic” or “spiritual” message in it? Do you get caught up in all the latest fads like tattoos and piercings? Did you pay for your daughter’s or son’s girlfriend’s abortion while claiming to be a Christian? Do you or the daughter who lives in your home dress seductively?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then, unless you have repented and are practicing righteousness, you are a hypocrite. If you are a hypocrite, you have one hope. Repent of your many sins, including your hypocrisy. Then walk in the way of Christ by abiding in his Word and obeying it. If you fail to repent, you remain outside of New Jerusalem, God’s Kingdom, for “outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Rev. 22:15 (ESV)
The hypocrite “loves and practices falsehood.” He does not practice righteousness. Are you a hypocrite, or do you practice righteousness?
