Hungry for God: Hating Hypocrisy

“And in His teaching He said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’”—Mark 12:38-40

God is all about the heart. God doesn’t care about outward conformity, but inward transformation. As Christians, we must learn to guard against the schemes of the evil one. He masquerades as an angel of light, ready to deceive the elect, if he were available. And perhaps one of the greatest weapons in his satanic arsenal is capturing the heart of Christ-followers. If Satan can capture a Christ-follower’s heart, then its just a matter of time before it comes to the surface.

Hypocrisy is the worst of sins because it does works secretly. Outward piety is only as good as inward practice and the hypocrite is most deadly because it gives the appearance of godliness. Godliness can have one of two effects—drawing a lost person to the Savior or driving him away. If genuine godliness is there, then the power of Christ can be seen and substantiated clearly. But, hypocritical godliness makes Christ to be of no power and the testimony of the individual to be of no affect.

Following Jesus means hating hypocrisy and doing everything to remove it from oneself. Our goal is not to get honor, but to give it. Rather than promoting ourselves, we humble ourselves and help others. The Christian life is not about getting, but giving oneself away, showing oneself to be as selfless as the Lord who purchased us, and letting His life that has been implanted in our souls, shine forth in all purity so that others might come to the knowledge of the Savior.

What area of your life are you falling short? What area of your life are you tolerating secret sins? Hate hypocrisy, repent of it, and do that which God delights in, letting God remove the old heart of sinful flesh and living with the new heart of the Spirit which was given by Jesus Himself. Amen.