Hypocrite (Ariton, AL)

Hypocrite

Definition of hypocrite 1. Anyone who feigns to be what he is not. As far as religion is concerned it is one who has the form of godliness without the power or who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue when he is destitute of true Christianity (true belief and action) they are just playing church. That person is a play actor that is the definition of hypocrite. They tend to drive people away from God instead of towards Him. This is a KJV Bible study guide. The temporal reward of men s praise and recognition is all that is gained from fake Christianity.Matthew 6 5 And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you They have their reward. Don t be so quick to criticize others when you fail to see your own shortcomings. See Romans 3 23 also.Luke 6 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother Brother let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye Thou hypocrite cast out first the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother s eye. Our hypocrisy doesn t fool God.Luke 16 15 And he said unto them Ye are they which justify yourselves before men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (You can t con God by putting on a show (playing church) see Psalm 145 18). Man-made traditions cannot substitute the commandments of God. Being a Christian is more than just professing you are - true love honor and worship come from following His Word.Mark 7 6 He answered and said unto them Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites as it is written This people honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me.Mark 7 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.Mark 7 8 For laying aside the commandment of God ye hold the tradition of men as the washing of pots and cups and many other such like things ye do. What we are on the outside is meaningless if our hearts are unconverted.Matthew 23 27 Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye are like unto whited sepulchres which indeed appear beautiful outward but are within full of dead men s bones and of all uncleanness.Matthew 23 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Hypocrisy is knowing the truth but not obeying it claiming Christ as Lord without following him thus leading others astray also. Far too many just play church and shun others they think they are too good to approach sinners.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. Practice what you preach it should be apparent by our deeds and not our words alone that we are true believers.Matthew 23 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.James 2 18 Yea a man may say Thou hast faith and I have works shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works.James 2 19 Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well the devils also believe and tremble.James 2 20 But wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead True followers of Christ will find it is a joy to do God s will.Psalm 40 8 I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy law is within my heart.Self righteous hypocrites do not even want to be around another sinner.Mark 2 15 And it came to pass that as Jesus sat at meat in his house many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples for there were many and they followed him.Mark 2 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners they said unto his disciples How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners (The Scribes and Pharisees didn t like the fact that Jesus was eating with sinners and common folks. Self righteous hypocrites don t like to hang around common people. They think they are holier than thou and they don t like to have anything to do with sinners. They seem to overlook the fact that according to Romans 3 23 everyone of us are sinners including themselves).Mark 2 17 When Jesus heard it he saith unto them They that are whole have no need of the physician but they that are sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.(When Jesus heard what the hypocrites were saying He tells them that Healthy people don t need a doctor sick people do. He goes on to tell them that He did not come to those who think they are righteous but to those who are sinners. Christ came to heal the sinners and bring them the truth. Most holier than thou people don t want to share the truth because they don t know the truth in the first place. They are hung up on legalism denominationalism religious rituals and traditions and commandments of men sadly they cannot see or understand the truth).Another example follows Mark 3 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger being grieved for the hardness of their hearts he saith unto the man Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out and his hand was restored whole as the other.(Jesus was angry with the same self righteous hypocrites as above in Mark 2. Don t be a hypocrite thinking you re better than someone else. Please see Romans 3 23 again we are all sinners).Playing ChurchThere is a game that people play In which religion is involved. It is the most dangerous game of all For the loss of one s soul is involved. It is a game of pretension And is popular as can be. We are the actor and play a role And a Christian we pretend to be. The game is called Playing Church And Sunday is game day. We suit up in our very best And act like we re in the narrow way. Our message is a happy one For holiness we think is boring. The Holy Spirit we think is working But it s an evil one that s imploring. We re energized and excited By the preachers stimulus package. We re made to feel like winners While our life s a sinful wreckage. We play this game inside the church Where we re still religious but lost. We think the Gospel is a joke For which Christ Jesus paid the cost. We think the Holy Spirit is the One Stirring up our rebellious heart But an evil spirit impersonates Him Working his deceitful satanic art. We can only become a Christian By faith in Christ and confessing our sin. Playing the game will never save us And will never bring peace within. Playing Church is a satanic game And Satan s the one that creates it. He makes religion fun and frivolous And everyone s a loser who plays it.James H. Cagle