By Andrew Williams – April 21, 2022
So the Pharisees and religious scholars asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the age-old traditions passed down by our elders? They should first ceremonially wash their hands before eating.” Jesus replied, “You are hypocrites! How accurately did Isaiah prophesy about you phonies when he said: ‘These people honor me with their words while their hearts run far away from me! Their worship is nothing more than a charade! For they continue to insist that their man-made traditions are equal to the instructions of God.’ “You abandon God’s commandments just to keep men’s rituals, such as ceremonially washing utensils, cups, and other things.”
Mark 7:5-8 TPT
Good morning fellow disciples.
Definition of hypocrite – 1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion;
2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.
In this passage we see Jesus speaking about the Pharisees in a manner that shows that they are putting on a false appearance of virtue or religion. They hold in high esteem the traditions of men while downplaying or disregarding the commands of God.
Examine yourself!
Are you a hypocrite?
Examine your local church!
Do they put the traditions of men and church doctrines in such high esteem that they are disregarding the commands/ teachings of God?
Examine other churches, or the church universal!
Do they honor God with their words while their hearts run far away from Him? Is their worship nothing more than a charade?
Let us first recognize the hypocrites and then call them out. Show them the error of their ways, show them the right thing to do, and help them to start obeying God the way He requires.
Let us first look inwards and sort out ourselves before we call out others. Having confessed and repented of our sins we can then lovingly help others to see their sins, and then lead them along the path of change.
Prayer: Father God, Your word is the truth! I will read, seek to understand it, apply it to my life, and show others how to live according to it. Where I am a hypocrite, show me by Your Word and Your Holy Spirit and I will change from my hypocrisy.
Help me to speak boldly and lovingly to others as I call out their hypocrisy! Use me to help to bring about Godly changes in others as they seek to serve You. It’s time for us as a church to see where we are disregarding Your Word by holding to the traditions of men.
Help us Lord I pray, to be like Jesus who was not a hypocrite! Help us Lord I pray, to call out the hypocrites and to help them to change to be fully surrendered and submitted to You. Amen.
