Topic: Hypocrisy
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 13-14; Luke 14: 1-24.
Memory Verse: “And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?” Luke 14:3 (KJV)
Hypocrisy is explained as assuming a false appearance of virtue or religion. It’s feigning to be what you are not! This strikes at the root of Christianity. It is an act of being deceitful. Jesus called scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites outrightly while speaking to them in Matthew 23:27. In the following verse, he explained their hypocrisy further when he said “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matthew 23:28 (KJV).
This unrighteous behavior was exhibited by the Pharisees in our Bible reading of today in Luke 14 when Jesus went to the house of one of the chief Pharisees on a sabbath day and a man which had dropsy was brought right in front of him for healing. The law of sabbath that the Pharisees wanted everybody to keep is that no work should be done on sabbath and in response in Luke 14:3 (KJV), “And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?” Though they did not answer the Lord Jesus but He knew their thought which was that such healing should not be done. This was expressed earlier in Luke 13:14.
Subsequently, he healed the man with dropsy and then showed their hypocrisy by asking them another question they were not willing to answer in Luke 14:5 (KJV), “And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?” So they like to enforce laws and rules on others but they will not keep the laws themselves! As Christians, there is need for self examination in our individual lives. Is there any area of hypocrisy that you need to address? The church these days is full of hypocrisy. Believers asking other brethren to do what they will not do themselves. Can you imagine talking about servant leadership and you not opening the door of your car until someone has come forward to open it for you to come down. Or you not carrying your Bible but waiting for people who had other baggages to come and carry your Bible because you are their Pastor! Meanwhile Philippians 2:3 (KJV) says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
The Kingdom of God is at hand and Romans 14:17 (KJV) states, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Are you truly living a life of righteousness by living in the Spirit? It is not too late to repent and have a new beginning. God is ever faithful and waiting for the return of the prodigal children.
Prayer Point: Father, examine, reveal and purge every sin of hypocrisy that is in me in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero