The hypocrite will tell you that you need to read the Bible, but he will not do so himself, or at least not often and in a manner that seeks the will of God. The verses that he will apply in his life are those that will in some fashion lift him up in the eyes of others, benefit his desires for advancement in this world. He is considered religious but able to fit quite nicely into both worlds. for he does not force his religion on anyone, nor does he tell those in the assembly he attends that they need to be more like him, that is the last thing he wants, for then he would not be lifted up in their eyes.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18)
You will probably not see this person fall, the Almighty has given him over to a reprobate mind, and our adversary adores, for lack of a better word, these individuals, for they lead many astray. No need for a transformed mind, no need to serve in suffering, to deny oneself or to die to Christ, the best of both worlds are available to him. The accolades, respect and regards of the world and the admiration of those who sit in the pews.
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” (James 1:26)
He ministers to the poor, after his needs and wants are met, he denies himself, if it fits into his agenda, he loves his neighbor, if that love can be used to his advantage. He will lift himself up in front of all he meets, but when he is questioned about the validity of his faith, the sincerity of it, of who it is he is truly serving, he becomes silent, he will begin to rebuke you, he will call you a Pharisee, judgmental and unloving.
And then, what happens many times, is that he will begin to spread rumors, lies about you, not in an aggressively violent manner, but with words to those who will listen that will cause them to believe that you are the hypocrite. He has become your enemy because you have revealed the truth to him, the truth of himself.
Some of these people sit in the pews with you every Sunday morning, you work beside them, you meet them every day, and when you reach out to them in love, after much prayerful consideration, in an attempt to help them to see the lie they have believed, they will hate you and many times do all within their power to get others to hate you as well.
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” (Romans 12:9)
My friends, there is a very good possibility that the most loved and respected man in town, the one who has achieved recognition as a good man both in this world and the religious one, is a hypocrite.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
He is well liked by the wicked, those other “good people,” and admired by those who profess the Lord Jesus Christ with their lips, and if you in love stand against him with the truth, all who know him, and in their own way love him, will stand against you.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)
There are two reasons here to take a stand, the first is the eternal place of that man, the second are those he is leading astray, those who are being led by the blind.
The decision to act is yours, but it does not change the truth of Ezekiel 3:18.
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”
First though, you must judge yourself, why do you read the Scriptures, who do you seek the face of God, why do you not do the things you used to do, or those things that at times you still want to do?
Few hypocrites can see the truth about themselves, and fewer want to. Who we are is not so much seen by our actions, but in the sincerity of our heart.
