Are You a Hypocrite (Actor or Actress)?
Are You a Hypocrite (Actor or Actress)?
Many flock to Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood and all the “Woods” around the world to become the best actors and actresses. We celebrate them and pay outrageous high prices for their performances. A hypocrite is an actor or an actress, a pretender, a deceiver, and a liar. A hypocrite is one who dares you to discover their true self and nature. They are masters in disguising. Jesus has no kind words for hypocrites as we find in our lesson today. “18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?” Matthew 22:18.
How can we test or tempt God who made the eyes and sees all things visible and invisible? Hypocrisy is the most foolish thing anyone can do. We can sometimes fool our fellow humans but we cannot fool God. Before we even speak, God already knows what is in our hearts and what we will say. It is ridiculous to be a hypocrite. We all are and have been hypocrites. God abhors hypocrisy.
What does God want from us? God wants us to come to Him knowing we are unrighteous and never to pretend we are not. Have you accepted God’s verdict that “We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6.
The problem with the Pharisees then and now is that they refused to accept that their acts were not sufficient to make them right with a Holy God. Have you come to trust your acts of righteousness instead of the Righteous One?
Yes I am a hypocrite but I am a redeemed hypocrite that has come out and declared my hypocrisy and now I am trusting the Truth, the Way and the Life – Jesus Christ. I have surrendered my claim to self-righteousness. Lord, I surrender my life and desires and rights to you, the perfect One.
Next time someone says to you, "All you church people are hypocrites". Just say yes, we are redeemed hypocrites. Ask them if they would like to acknowledge their own hypocrisy and be set free by the TRUTH - Jesus Christ? We must live in the truth and there is no further excuse for hypocrisy. "5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7.
Hypocrisy is pride and it will stop you from praying and calling on God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to help you. Remember we only have One God in three persons. This is the trinity we believe. God the Holy Spirit lives in believers to show us all things and reveal Christ and the Cross to us so we can live for His glory. He the Holy Spirit also gives us the power and enablement to live for the glory of God.
Let's ask God the Holy Spirit to reveal any hypocrisy in our lives so we can repent and live in the truth.
Jesus is after the condition of our hearts. In our lesson today, let’s not be distracted by the pretense of the question. Should Jesus or anyone pay taxes? Of course we should pay taxes. The governments are established by God for our own good. The government cannot replace our need and trust in God. Yes, “in God we trust” and all others pay cash. That is what is written on the American dollar note.
Lord, I come to you now, without any pretense of my righteousness. Deliver me from every self lies and hypocrisy. Your death on the cross has made me righteous forever and I trust you and thank you. Holy Spirit, please continue to open my eyes to the wonders of your love for me, a worthless sinner who has been accepted by a worthy and righteous God. Help me live for your glory. Help me to introduce others to Jesus who will take away their sins and all hypocrisy. Amen.
The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Many flock to Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood and all the “Woods” around the world to become the best actors and actresses. We celebrate them and pay outrageous high prices for their performances. A hypocrite is an actor or an actress, a pretender, a deceiver, and a liar. A hypocrite is one who dares you to discover their true self and nature. They are masters in disguising. Jesus has no kind words for hypocrites as we find in our lesson today. “18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?” Matthew 22:18.
How can we test or tempt God who made the eyes and sees all things visible and invisible? Hypocrisy is the most foolish thing anyone can do. We can sometimes fool our fellow humans but we cannot fool God. Before we even speak, God already knows what is in our hearts and what we will say. It is ridiculous to be a hypocrite. We all are and have been hypocrites. God abhors hypocrisy.
What does God want from us? God wants us to come to Him knowing we are unrighteous and never to pretend we are not. Have you accepted God’s verdict that “We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6.
The problem with the Pharisees then and now is that they refused to accept that their acts were not sufficient to make them right with a Holy God. Have you come to trust your acts of righteousness instead of the Righteous One?
Yes I am a hypocrite but I am a redeemed hypocrite that has come out and declared my hypocrisy and now I am trusting the Truth, the Way and the Life – Jesus Christ. I have surrendered my claim to self-righteousness. Lord, I surrender my life and desires and rights to you, the perfect One.
Next time someone says to you, "All you church people are hypocrites". Just say yes, we are redeemed hypocrites. Ask them if they would like to acknowledge their own hypocrisy and be set free by the TRUTH - Jesus Christ? We must live in the truth and there is no further excuse for hypocrisy. "5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7.
Hypocrisy is pride and it will stop you from praying and calling on God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to help you. Remember we only have One God in three persons. This is the trinity we believe. God the Holy Spirit lives in believers to show us all things and reveal Christ and the Cross to us so we can live for His glory. He the Holy Spirit also gives us the power and enablement to live for the glory of God.
Let's ask God the Holy Spirit to reveal any hypocrisy in our lives so we can repent and live in the truth.
Jesus is after the condition of our hearts. In our lesson today, let’s not be distracted by the pretense of the question. Should Jesus or anyone pay taxes? Of course we should pay taxes. The governments are established by God for our own good. The government cannot replace our need and trust in God. Yes, “in God we trust” and all others pay cash. That is what is written on the American dollar note.
Lord, I come to you now, without any pretense of my righteousness. Deliver me from every self lies and hypocrisy. Your death on the cross has made me righteous forever and I trust you and thank you. Holy Spirit, please continue to open my eyes to the wonders of your love for me, a worthless sinner who has been accepted by a worthy and righteous God. Help me live for your glory. Help me to introduce others to Jesus who will take away their sins and all hypocrisy. Amen.
The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
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