Hypocrisy

        We are definitely a hypocritical people. We can pick out the flaws and sins of others much easier than we can see them in ourselves (thus the plank illustration of Matthew 7:3-5).  Throughout the New Testament, Jesus and inspired writers go to the trouble to not only point out but also to condemn hypocrisy. In Matthew 23, Jesus uses several analogies to describe the Scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites. He describes them as dishes that are clean on the outside and dirty within (vs. 25) and “whitewashed tombs” that are beautiful on the outside but full of rot and decay within (vs. 27).  This is obviously not pleasing to God, but unfortunately, hypocrisy seems to be an accepted system of operation for our culture. If we give the appearance of meeting conditions and requirements (whether it be for church, work, play, etc . . .), then everything’s copacetic. I fume when I see hypocrisy in the people around me, but do I really look for it in myself in an effort to root it out? If I were honest, I would say rarely, but I should be on guard against it at all times because it destroys the effectiveness of my witness. Lest we as “true” Christians think ourselves to be above the practice of hypocrisy, Galatians 2 offers a sobering warning. The issue of circumcision had become a hot topic for debate and even Peter (a pillar of the faith) and “the rest of the Jews joined [sic] in the hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy” (Gal. 2:11-14). If we are not careful, we can become what we condemn in others, lose our witness and involve others in our own hypocrisy. In Matthew 11:19b, Jesus said, “Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds” and James 3:17 lists the characteristics from wisdom that is from God: it is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without hypocrisy. If we are wise, we will ask God to help us remove all traces of hypocrisy from our lives so that we can win others to Christ instead of repulsing them.