Ignore the Hypocrites
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in
Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not
do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” – Matthew 23:2-3
She was upset. Someone had lied to her. He’d told her
two different things and she was so disappointed in him.
He is a man who quotes the Bible with great
proficiency. He can offer up beautiful prayers that draw you in. He can make
you believe he is on a different level of faith, one you’ll probably never
achieve.
Except it’s all an illusion. It really hurts to learn
that lesson. It happens when we think some people are greater than we are in
the kingdom of God. They will let us down every time. They are only people,
just like you and me.
I have known this man my entire life. I have seen the
hypocrisy play out again and again. Those closest to him have no respect left
for him. There have been too many lies, too much skirting of the law, too many
comments about those “he” has saved.
Because you see it’s not about Jesus with him. Maybe
once upon a time it was. I don’t know. But in my adult years every comment,
every outreach, every thing he has done, has been to bring glory to himself. I
have a problem with that. Our lives are to be spent glorifying God, not the
other way around.
He can certainly quote the Bible. He’s spent hours
memorizing its words. But he doesn’t seem to think those words apply to his
life. He explains it all away. He speaks with authority. Few people bother to
search the Scriptures for themselves. Few dare to challenge someone who can
throw God’s word back at them.
The Pharisees were like that. They were scholars and
teachers of the law. They knew exactly what the Scriptures said. Yet they
missed the most important part. They missed Jesus.
They didn’t see it that way. They were just so proud
of themselves and all their rules. They knew exactly what to say. And who to
condemn. And they understood that Jesus was a threat to them. Why? Because He
came to tell the truth, to show the way, to love on people where they were and
offer mercy and kindness.
The Pharisees liked their power. They basked in the
respect of their positions. They wanted to continue to look down on people and
lift themselves up. But that was never the way it was supposed to be in the
kingdom of God.
Don’t let anyone cause you to feel inferior as you
learn and grow in Christ. Don’t lift anyone up onto a pedestal and believe that
their faith is somehow greater or their prayers were powerful than your own.
God looks at the heart. When you don’t know what to
pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. You are just as valuable to God as
anyone else.
And when someone starts talking about how “he” has
saved souls, run in the opposite direction. When someone tries to throw
Scripture in your face, remind them that God reveals Himself to all who seek
Him. It’s not about memorization. It’s about growing more like Christ with each
passing day.
God loves you. Don’t worry about the hypocrites. Spend
your days trying to live so that others can see Him in your life. Love the LORD
your God with all your heart. Then love others as yourself.
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