Christian Living
Don’t be Hypocritical in Judgment
Hi Faith-writers, I thank God once again for allowing me to come back and share HIS Word with HIS people. We are going to continue on the topic of Hypocrisy as Jesus taught it. It will help us tremendously when we capture the Revelation and spiritual application of the Word of God on this topic.
Peter was an Apostle for 25 years, and he practiced Hypocrisy in the area of partiality—until Paul confronted him about his Hypocrisy in front of everyone (See, Galatians chapter 2:1-21 NKJV). Again, although Peter was doing this for fear of being criticized by the Jewish community. Paul Scripturally set them straight, and gave everyone an awesome lesson of the Saving Grace of God (Galatians 2:16-21 NKJV). So that, they would not look at the Gentiles like step-children in the Kingdom of God.
Can God use a Hypocrite?
Although Peter practiced Hypocrisy for fear of the Jewish community—Jesus still appointed Peter as a Shepherd in John chapter 21:15-19 NKJV. Then Jesus continued to use Peter with Mighty Signs, Wonders, and Miracles as an Apostle, in the book of Acts Chapters 2 thru 12.
Therefore, we cannot remain in limbo or refuse to do anything in the Kingdom of God on earth even if we have some area of weakness or some degree of Hypocrisy in our personal lives. Our mindset should be, if Jesus called Peter and appointed him as a leader with the issues that he had—then Jesus could use me as well. Because remember Paul confronted Peter 25 to 27 years later. So Jesus used Peter tremendously before the confrontation with Paul.
I purposely had to share this point so that you won’t be swayed by this topic. Most people shy away from strong teaching, this is why the Spirit of God led me to share this before we go on to learn about Hypocrisy in the area of Judgment.
Jesus on the topic of Hypocritical Judgment
Judge not, that you be not judged. (v. 1)
For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (v. 2)
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (v. 3)
Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? (v. 4)
“You HYPOCRITE, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (v. 5) (Matthew 7:1-5 ESV)
When Christians Judge each other…
For many years, I’ve witnessed Christians who have been Saved (Born-again) longer than other Christians bashing each other by using these verses when it came to them Judging one another. The younger Christian would quote these verses to the older Christian, when the older Christian would try to bring correction to the younger Christian, hoping that the younger Christian may walk upright in some area of their Christian lifestyle that seems to be lacking.
And vise-versa when the younger Christian seem to have it altogether in their own eyes in some area, they would try to correct the older Christian and the Older Christian would use these verses to bring condemnation upon the younger Christian for judging them.
The Proper way of Correcting
If we needed a Biblical example of correction there is no other story better than, “Paul correcting Peter about his Hypocrisy of Partiality,” in Galatians chapter 2:1-21 NKJV.
Paul explained the Gospel of Salvation by faith and Grace and we are all Justified by Faith in Christ Jesus. Paul explained more as we read Galatians 2:16-21 NKJV. However, he was very clear and pointed when he revealed the Scriptural Truth that Peter and the rest of the Jews were failing to consider—when it came to their Hypocritical acts against the Gentile Believers.
However, going back to what Jesus was teaching we need to do some Proper Interpretation so we won’t fall into the condemnation of bashing each other—like I’ve seen so many doing as I was maturing in the Lord over the years.
Jesus was preaching to the common people in this Sermon on the Mount, more than the Religious order. Jesus knew the Religious order were in attendance when HE was preaching and teaching. And I strongly believe HE was talking more to the Religious order than the common people when HE was sharing this teaching of Judging and being Hypocritical when Judging.
How did I come to this conclusion?
Because if we carefully read the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Jesus always called the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites. (See, Matthew 23:13-29 NKJV) In fact, Jesus called them Hypocrites 7 times in Matthew chapter 23, alone. And Jesus clearly explained to them why they were Hypocrites. To clearly give them a way out of their Hypocrisy if they would have genuinely considered HIS correction and their foolish religious behavior patterns and repented.
Now, if we go back to the other areas of Hypocrisy Jesus was pointing out in HIS Sermon in Matthew chapter 6, where Jesus taught;
* Don’t give like a Hypocrite (Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV)
* Don’t Pray like a Hypocrite (Matthew 6:5-8 NKJV)
* Don’t Fast like a Hypocrite (Matthew 6:16-18 NKJV)
Now, the common people feared the religious order. (See, John Chapter 9:22-23 NKJV) People feared being thrown out of the synagogue. When Jesus taught about not Giving, Praying, and Fasting like a Hypocrite—Jesus was restructuring the misapplication the common people were applying in these areas because they were wrongly taught by the Religious order of how to Give, Pray and Fast. But the Religious order did these things out of Hypocrisy. And they trained the people to do the same.
So, Jesus, being fully aware of the Religious orders foolish doctrine that the common people picked up—HE had to re-instruct the people, as well as, the Religious order. Jesus did not want the common people to be Hypocritical as the Scribes and Pharisees.
Remember, the common people did not have Bibles or the Old Testament like we do today. So, they had to go to the synagogue to hear the Word of God out of the Old Testament—but they got a bunch of rules and regulations and a lot of Hypocritical ones at that!
Jesus always tried to Re-teach the Scribes and Pharisees every time they came Judging HIM.
Another clue we have in Scripture that tells us that Jesus was speaking to both the Scribes and Pharisees more than the common people about Hypocrisy, is what Jesus said, in Matthew 7:1-3; that connects with an occasion that Jesus had to repeat the same thing to the Pharisees later on in Matthew chapter 12.
Jesus said, judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2 ESV)
Now, let’s look at Matthew chapter 12; Jesus talking to the Pharisees again about judging;
Jesus said, I tell you, on the day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:36-37 ESV)
To summarize what Jesus was saying and connecting it to the fact that when Jesus was preaching and teaching about Hypocrisy. Jesus was correcting the Pharisees because they were accusing Him of casting out demons by Beelzebul (Matthew 12:22-27 ESV)
Then Jesus spoke about the power HE operated under (Matthew 12:28-30 ESV)
Then Jesus spoke about the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32 ESV) which is what the Pharisees were doing by attributing the works of God—by being demonic powers at work. (Many so-called Christians are guilty of this –especially those intellectual Christians who do not believe in Signs wonders and Miracles happening today.) They are Blasphemying against the Holy Spirit when they attribute a genuine healing or miracle—as demonic forces at work, instead correctly acknowledging God’s Mighty hand at work.
Then Jesus spoke about a good tree brings good fruit and an evil tree brings evil fruit (Matthew 12:33-35 ESV) (Good tree are good believers common people and HIS disciples—evil tree Scribes and Pharisees.)
And finally, Jesus spoke about judging in the same way HE spoke about it in Matthew chapter 7:1-2 ESV. The Judgment was inappropriate and misguided when they evaluated the works of God—and claiming it was the work of Beelzebul (Matthew 12:22-27 ESV)
Therefore, this Sermon on the Mount that was re-instructing everyone the common people, as well as, the Scribes and Pharisees. It was the topic of Hypocrisy that was aimed at the religious order for their role in the application of religious dogma and falsely acting like their serving God when they were really role playing ACTING like a believer. A Hypocrite is by definition a play-actor. It is feigning to be what one is not. That was what the Scribes and Pharisees were doing and Jesus was quick to point it out.
So, when we consider the way Jesus taught about Hypocrisy—it was aimed more at religious acting than true godly worship and servitude. Jesus demonstrated true godly worship and servitude—the Scribes and Pharisees demonstrate false worship and religious dogma—they were actors not true believers. Amen.
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