Hypocrites Meaning Explained
Hypocrites in the Bible Woe
Even just the word hypocrite sounds ugly, does it not? Most people have been a hypocrite at one point or another in their life. Everyone. No matter who you may be, you have had or do have a vice of one sort or another.
Call it what you will, whether it be a habit, an imperfection, a moral fault, or a weakness, it's part of our human condition. And though some vices are things we despise about ourselves, some of them are also things we really like to do. Some vices hurt others ... And some just hurt ourselves.
Christian Hypocrites Bible point of interest ... In any case, the thing that we must be cautious of, is judging others for things that we deem as vices in others which we don't approve of, because by doing so, we bring judgment upon ourselves, and if we believe our own vices to be harmless, chances are, other people believe that their vices are harmless as well. You could say, that it all depends on how you look at it.
Let's look at this Religious Hypocrites Bible issue the way Paul explains things for just a minute:
Titus 1:15
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and
unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is
defiled.
Religious Hypocrites Meaning
Hypocrites in the Bible Fear
Look at that first part:
Unto the pure all things are pure.
A baby doesn't know anything about stealing, so if a baby snitches a piece of candy off of the Brach's candy stand at the store, it isn't a sin. In that baby's heart, it did not say to itself ... I'm going to steal this piece of candy ... But rather ... Ohhhhhhh, Candy!!! There is no malice or deceit of any kind involved, only pureness of heart, therefore, as Paul said:
Unto the pure all things are pure.
As adults, we find it very difficult for some reason to apply this to
other adults. Why? Are there not adults, other than ourselves, who do
things out of the pureness of their hearts as well?
Christian Hypocrites Bible tidbit of Truth ... It's not uncommon to hear Christians criticize other Christians about this, that and the other, even when they possess weaknesses of their own. Again, I must warn you, this is dangerous business. Jesus had a word for people who practice this, either outwardly or in their heart. That word is ... "hypocrite."
Woe unto those who choose that Religious Hypocrites Bible path.
Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up
the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves,
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Now, you may be wondering exactly what I'm talking about, so let me
give you a few of the most common examples:
- Smoking
- Drinking
- (Over)Eating
There are probably a number of you who are poised with your Bibles waiting to quote me this Religious Hypocrites Scripture:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
But the question that arises is, What is it that defiles the body?
Christian Hypocrites Meaning Mystery
Religious Hypocrites in the Bible Story
Let's look at a little Religious Hypocrites Bible story, shall we?
Once upon a time, Jesus was talking to the Religious Hypocrites known as the
Pharisees, who were criticizing the disciples of Jesus because they didn't wash their hands before they ate. The Pharisees were always chasing Jesus around awaiting any tiny little thing to berate Him for. But Jesus told them (in so many words) that they go about changing the laws of God (which is a huge offense) yet find the most insignificant things to scoff at Him about.
Matthew 15:10-11
10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but
that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
The disciples asked Jesus what He meant by this because they noticed that He ruffled the feathers of the Religious Hypocrites by His words, so Jesus explained:
Matthew 15:16-20
16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet
without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in
at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come
forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat
with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Christian Hypocrites Meaning Exposed
Hypocrites in the Bible Danger
Dragon Breath?
James elaborates on this:
James 3:6-10
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the
tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and
setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents,
and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil,
full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith
curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
This is a great Religious Hypocrites Bible point that James makes. The creatures of the Earth are one up on us humans in the sense that they cannot speak, nor be hypocrites. The things that they use their voices for are praising their Creator, for mating calls (being fruitful and multiplying, as God commanded them) and for self defense or survival. Animals may be wild, but among the human race, the things that we say are untamed, full of deadly poison, to repeat what James said.
Is All Sin Created Equal?
There are also those folks who believe that in the Lord's eyes, one sin is the same (just as bad) as another. Friends, there is only one Judge, and that is God. In many of our Christian studies, you have learned that one law does not apply in all situations, and God judges the heart.
Haughty Christian Hypocrites Pitfalls
Again, there are some who may be proudly leafing through their Old Testament right about now, diligently searching for that Scripture that they are positive that they once read that says something to the effect of ... All sin weighing the same and fiery judgment and hell awaits all who fall. But, let me save you a little time with two words that nullify whatever it is that you are so certain of ... New Covenant.
Forget the Flesh ... Save Your Soul
Still stuck on the body being the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and that you should watch what you allow inside of you physically, mentally and spiritually? Well, what did Jesus say?
Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body
in hell.
Religious Hypocrites Bible Reminder ... As Christians, it is our duty to defend our Faith, and when we see our fellow Christians doing wrong, to gently and lovingly warn them. However, there is no room for Christian hypocrisy or a religious hypocrite attitude. Be certain that you are not telling others that something is wrong, that may not be wrong for them. Be sure to check out Chapter 14 of Romans, where Paul explains this:
You will find that it is usually that case, that people are prideful and almost above everything else, they want to be right about everything
... No matter what. But, if you understood what Paul wrote to the Romans, you know that what is right for you, may not be right for another. If you are one like the Religious Hypocrites aka Pharisees, and you step back and really study your morals, you might find that they are very contradictory. But, they justify everything you do, in your own eyes. That is probably what Jesus meant when He said:
Matthew 23:23-24
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the
weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought
ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a
camel.
Christian Hypocrites Meaning Debate
Hypocrites in the Bible Summary
One more thing ... Though all of this is directed at those who may be
guiding others in hypocrisy, take a look at what Jesus says about
those who listen to the blind guides:
Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind
lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Religious Hypocrites Bible Advice ... If someone else criticizes you for something, always consult with the Holy Spirit for the Truth. Don't just follow blindly into a ditch. There is no doubt about it, we have to be careful, being human, because of Original Sin, we inherently have evil inside of us:
Genesis 6:5
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who
can know it?
