Did you know that the Bible records the word hypocrite or hypocrisy over 35 times in the King James Version? The word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word “hypokrite” which basically was the word used for an “actor.” The actor pretended to be someone he was not, and would sometimes wear a mask, to cover his real identity. This is a picture of what our word “hypocrite” means today. Webster’s Dictionary gives this definition of hypocrisy: “a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not: behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel.”
I found Jesus so intense about this topic in the New Testament. Matthew 24:45-51 says:-
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The beginning of this chapter talks about the destruction of the temple and signs of the end times. Reading it made me really evaluate myself, think through my life. Are my actions forming a part of what Jesus foretold was to come in the end times? Am I deceiving others with my words and actions? Have I ever turned away from my faith? Have I betrayed another? Have I hated someone else? Has my love grown cold? Am I a wicked servant? One that beats fellow servants, who eats and drinks with drunkards? Then my place is with the hypocrites. The place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This made me really think. Think of the times when I have let Jesus down by shying away from the Kingdom of God. Times when I revenged. Times when I hurt others deliberately out of hate and pain within me. Oh, how much guilt feels my heart. Good guilt. This is the one that takes me back to my knees and approach the throne of my Heavenly Father for forgiveness and washing of sins. How much fear and trembling takes over me as I feel the shame of my actions!!
Lord, forgive me. Lord, forgive us. Forgive us for turning away from the faith that you graciously brought our way. Forgive us Lord for the lukewarmness when things are good and there are no difficulties making us run to you as often as we should. Forgive us for not standing up for the Kingdom of God when it really matters. How vile our words must be when we profess love to you yet we shower those around us with hate through gossiping and back stabbing.
Have mercy on us, our Savior and cleanse us of all filth that classifies us as hypocrites!! Purge us with hyssop and we shall be clean. If we say we have no sin, then we deceive ourselves. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to the ways we have displeased our King and we shall repent. We are only human, and are sinful at birth. We look to you Jesus for salvation. Deliver us from the guilt of bloodshed, oh God. Let the blood of your Son at Calvary blot out all our iniquity.
After you are done cleansing us Lord, won’t you restore unto us the joy of salvation. May the bones you have crushed rejoice. Grant us a willing and zealous spirit to serve you even more for the rest of our lives. On your return, our prayer is that we will be counted as wise and faithful servants. That you will find us doing what you desire of us. That we will serve you at our various areas of gifts in ways that will give you glory and honor!! Be praised Gracious and Merciful God!! You are truly God like no other!! You deserve all praise for who you are. Be magnified in our lives!!
Thank you Jesus!! And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more, Amen!!
God bless you and see you next week Friday!!
#Hypocrisy #Forgiveness #Hopeforyouandme