Hypocrisy
A hypocrite is one who acts contrary to what they say or what they believe. It's in the Bible, Jeremiah 42:20, NKJV. "For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it."
Putting on a show of self-sacrifice for self-glorification is hypocritical. It's in the Bible, Matthew 6:2, NKJV. "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. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."
The temporal reward of men's praise and recognition is all that is gained from fake Christianity. It's in the Bible, Matthew 6:5, NKJV. "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 the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."
Don't be so quick to criticize others when you fail to see your own shortcomings. It's in the Bible, Luke 6:42, NKJV. "Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye."
Our hypocrisy doesn't fool God. It's in the Bible, Luke 16:15, TLB. "Then He said to them, 'You wear a noble, pious expression in public, but God knows your evil hearts. Your pretense brings you honor from the people, but it is an abomination in the sight of God.'"
Man-made traditions cannot substitute the commandments of God. Being a Christian is more than just professing you are - true love, honor, and worship come from following His Word. It's in the Bible, Mark 7:6-8, ESV. "And He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."
What we are on the outside is meaningless, if our hearts are unconverted. It's in the Bible, Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness"
Hypocrisy is knowing the truth but not obeying it—claiming Christ as Lord without following him. It's in the Bible, Matthew 23:13, NIV. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."
Just because we are not hypocritical, does not excuse us from not following God's commands. It's in the Bible, Matthew 23:23, NKJV. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone"
Our lives should be transparent of Christ living in us and converting us. It's in the Bible, James 2:18-20, NKJV. "But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"
True followers of Christ will find it is a joy to do God's will. It's in the Bible, Psalm 40:8, NKJV. "I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
We do not obey Jesus to be saved, but it is our response to His love and gift of salvation. It's in the Bible, John 14:15, NKJV. "If you love me, keep my commandments."
God's love for us, awakens love for Him and others who He gave His life for. It's in the Bible, 1 John 4:9-11, NKJV. "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this, is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
