The Danger of Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy. It’s when hands lifted in praise have been earlier used for sin. It’s when lips proclaiming praise had hours earlier been used for insults. It’s when one’s reputation and one’s character are vastly different. The Pharisees were condemned for their hypocrisy. We read the stories of their encounters with Jesus and shake our heads at how far off they were from the truth without realizing that that is why they were condemned in the first place.
Today, we need to evaluate and see if our lifestyle is different than that of the hypocritical Pharisees. Are we living lives of integrity?
Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 15:1-9.
Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they were more focused on people breaking their traditions than God’s commandments. It infuriated them that Jesus’ disciples did not follow protocol when it came to washing of hands and the manner in which they ate. Jesus was exhausted from their unwillingness to see the big picture.
