"Now Hear This" #6

Jesus introduces a word familiar to His hearers with an explosive new application. The word "HYPOCRITE" was a word the common people were acquainted with, but they had never heard it used in the context of their political and religious leaders, at least not openly in a public way.

In the common language of the day a "hypocrite" was an actor, one who assumed the posture and character of a person on stage wearing a mask that portrayed the character they were pretending to be. Jesus used the word as identifying their religious leaders and politicians. In other words, they were phonies.

Hear some of what He had to say in His Sermon on the Mount -

THEIR PHONY CHARITY

• "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the HYPOCRITES do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. I say to you, they have their reward." Matthew 6:1-2

THEIR PHONY PRAYERS

• "And when you pray, you shall not be like the HYPOCRITES. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of streets that they may be seen by men......But when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do......Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:5-6
  

THEIR PHONY FASTING

• "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the HYPOCRITES, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to be men fasting, but your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:16-17 

Surely all of us have played the HYPOCRITE, wearing our mask of deception at times. It can become like a game we play in order to solidify our supposed superiority over others. The opposite of hypocrisy is humility. And none of us are born with either. We learn it gradually from our family, our friends, our associates and our leaders. So be really honest with yourself and carefully make a right decision about what you admire in others who can influence you to mimic them;

Please don't continue to fool yourself into actually believing the oft used old adage, "well that's just the way I am". Only the love of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit of God can lead us into a better, more honest and comfortable state of mind. Beware of all spiritual and political leaders who you can easily see are HYPOCRITES. They do and say what they do and say because they want to manipulate others who blindly follow them down a dead end street.

In our next session, we will consider Jesus statement "in this manner, therefore pray."