"Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them."
Matthew 23:1-3
Jesus has a very high view a scripture, but a very low view of hypocrites. He called condemnation and judgment down on the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees. Obedience to the Word of God is not nullified however, when coming from the lips of hypocrites.
We are all hypocrites at one time or another. Hypocrites do not practice what they preach. Hypocrites motives are to be seen by men. Hypocrites are prideful and full of themselves. Hypocrites love to receive honor. As it did with the scribes and the Pharisees, biblical truth angers unregenerate hypocrites. It convicts the saved hypocrites. It is a good test for where we truly stand, isn't it?
There is only One who rightly deserves honor and He can and should be followed according to His deeds and given this honor. It is because He sought the honor of the Father, humbling Himself in obedience to the Father. Jesus was never a hypocrite. His aim was the Father's will. His motives were out of love for the Father and love for us. He is our example of a correct motive, unfailing obedience to the Father's commands, and perfect love - always putting other's first. The things He said that ought be done, He did, perfectly, flawlessly. May we strive to be just like Him.
There is only One who rightly deserves honor and He can and should be followed according to His deeds and given this honor. It is because He sought the honor of the Father, humbling Himself in obedience to the Father. Jesus was never a hypocrite. His aim was the Father's will. His motives were out of love for the Father and love for us. He is our example of a correct motive, unfailing obedience to the Father's commands, and perfect love - always putting other's first. The things He said that ought be done, He did, perfectly, flawlessly. May we strive to be just like Him.
1 comment:
Someone (my pastor, I think!) recently said to someone who complained about church being full of hypocrites, "Can you think of a better place for us?"
A rebuttal I have ready, but have never been able to use, is pointing out who first used the term the way we do it today: Jesus! In His day, a hypocrite was an actor who wore a mask to play a character. Jesus was using the term metaphorically, the same way He called the scribes and pharisees "whitewashed tombs...clean on the outside, on the inside, full of death and contagion." (paraphrased) Jesus was harder on hypocrites than any jaded atheist ever was!
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