Reflection

Hypocrisy is defined as the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.

The term “Hypocrite” is one that is very easy to throw around in today’s narrative. It is provided to both believers and unbelievers, however often associated with the Church. This is nothing new, and it clearly dates back to biblical times as we have read this week. This occurs because we often believe that what we do is more important than who we are. This presents a great obstacle to following Jesus.

We see countless times how the religious leaders attempt to trap Jesus in order to disqualify Him and His ministry. They were angry that Jesus was not interested in maintaining the religious traditions which they established. They were teaching that a person’s morality was simply judged by their abilities to keep these elevated traditions and external behaviors. 

When we elevate our thoughts, emotions, behaviors or traditions above God’s word, we are practicing self-centeredness. God is more concerned about our hearts than He is about our works. Holiness is about the heart, about setting ourselves apart from everything else for God. It becomes easy to redefine sin and make faith about what we do rather than who we are as God’s children, in a close, loving relationship with Him.

Do you find that you are quick to point out others as being Hypocrites? Maybe you have a critical spirit, easily looking for what is wrong with others, or how they are not measuring up? Do you find it easy to condemn others? “They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”” (John‬ ‭8:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬) Are you ready to drop that rock in your hand? 

As followers of Jesus, it is our mission to spread the Gospel. We are not the judges of others, for only God has that authority. We are to spread the good news, to point people to Jesus and provide biblical teaching. As a good soil, we can be receptive to God’s word. We never fully arrive, but continue to grow our roots deeper into a relationship with God. The deeper our roots and the more we remain in the Son light (Jesus) the more we will produce fruit. It will be during the sometimes painful, pruning seasons that God will remove from us that which displeases Him and is not of Him. However, we must all go through this refining process and accept correction from both God and those He uses to help us draw closer to Him.

An immoral heart will want to be satisfied by things that are outside of God’s will. A hardened heart will be quick to judge and throw stones at others before self reflecting to see what steps we must take to grow closer to God and His will. We are not strong enough on our own strength or exempt because of our good deeds or upholding of traditions. Our only hope is found in Jesus. The cross was necessary as we cannot receive acceptance before God based simply on obedience, we need a new heart. Jesus came to this broken world, remained sinless, maintained a pure heart and laid down His life for every one of us.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your one and only Son, Jesus. That He came for a sinner like me. That I may experience a relationship with You and that I may spend eternity in Your Kingdom. Praise You Jesus as the joy of my salvation. I pray that You provide the necessary pruning in my life, and the heart surgery that is required to make me more Holy, so that Your Spirit can live within me. Empty my heart from the things of this world, that You may fill it and take up residence. I pray against a critical spirit, I pray that I am quick to forgive and that I interact with all those around me with both grace and truth, as You teach me in Your Word. Help me to take corrections so that I may have a purified heart. I am open to You Father, let Your Glory in. Amen.