A
businessman’s office wall was covered with award plaques and framed documents. On
the wall was a diploma from the Harvard Business School, a “National Salesman of the
Year” award, and a letter from the President of the United States. A visitor
was impressed by his honors and asked, “How did you manage to accomplish so
much in such a short time?” “It really wasn’t that hard,” the man replied. “I
have a sign-printing business.”
Hypocrisy
is trying to impress others by pretending to be something that we’re not. Jesus
called the Pharisees hypocrites 14 times in the book of Matthew alone. They
performed their religious duties “to be seen” by men (Matt. 6:1). “To be seen” in
Greek is theathemai, which is where we get our word “theater.”
Jesus was saying that a hypocrite is an actor who plays a role. The actors on
the Greek stage performed in the theater to be seen by an audience. Their
reward for their performance was the applause they received from the
spectators.
The
hypocritical Pharisees were merely religious actors, playing the role of a
righteous person in the “theater” of street corners, synagogues, and the
temple. They longed for the praise of men, which was the reason they performed
so many righteous deeds in public. When they received compliments and applause
from their admiring audience, Jesus said, “they have received their reward in
full” (Matt. 6:2).
The
Pharisees serve as a warning to not become actors, who do the right things but
with the wrong motives. We are hypocrites if we say that we believe God’s Word
but live in a way that doesn’t line up. The antidote for hypocrisy is to live with a
“sincere heart” (Heb. 10:22) and “love from a pure heart, a good conscience,
and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5). The apostle Paul told us there is only one
audience we need to please: “For am I seeking the favor of people, or God? Or
am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I
would not be a slave of Christ” (Gal. 1:10)
Check
your heart. Keep doing what’s right, and do it to please God.
Have
you read about the strange customs of the Pharisees? Click on Who were the Pharisees? Be sure to read
the 26 Questions, which helps to
identify Modern-Day Phariseeism.
***********************
Slaying
Your Giants is filled with
interesting stories, humor, and practical advice about how to conquer 20 giants
(fear, depression, discontentment, self-image, anger, and more)
The Sure Cure for Worry contains amazing true stories and helps the reader see God
is in control.
What
is Making Life Count Ministries? (3 min. video)
