Devotionals

Jesus Hates Hypocrisy Too

by Cheryl Weber
07/29/16
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Have you ever said you wouldn’t want to be a Christian because all Christians are hypocrites?

Jesus hates hypocrisy too.

He reserved some of his harshest words for the Jewish religious leaders—the ones who should have been the best examples. Eight times in Matthew chapter 23 Jesus cried, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (NASB)

Among other things Jesus accused them of:

-Caring only about outward appearance and their own glory. (vs. 5-8)

-Rejecting true faith and keeping others from it as well. (vs.13)

-Oppressing the helpless and hiding their deeds under a pious mask. (vs. 14)

-Putting more value on material things than on the sacred. (vs. 16-22)

-Valuing man-made rules over the needs of others. (vs. 23)

-Having hearts as corrupt as rotting corpes and as poisonous as vipers. (vs. 27, 33)

The truth of the Christian faith is determined not by the behavior of imperfect human beings but by the character of God. Jesus didn’t turn away from the Father because of the false religionists of his day. He finished what he came to do—taking the punishment for our sins upon himself so we could be forgiven.

Each of us will answer to God for what we did with his free offer of salvation—acceptance leading to eternal life or rejection leading to eternal separation from God in hell. The failure of others to live what they say they believe is no excuse for that rejection.  

When we trust ourselves to Christ’s faithfullness, we have the wonderful opportunity of living the kind of life that makes people say, “Now there’s a real Christian. I want to know more.”