Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
The basic meaning of the word hypocrisy is to be acting or playing the part of something or somebody that you are not. A religious hypocrite is a person who gives the appearance of being something on the outside that is contrary to what they really are on the inside. They basically go through life adapting their behavior to their surroundings. They can lift their hands high in a church service like no other, but they can feel just as comfortable in a gutter or den of iniquity. They can talk gospel talk with Christians and trash talk the gospel and Christians when they feel they are in danger. They can talk about holiness and listen to or watch godless, profane programs or music. And here is the catch…..they can prosper in doing so! They can gain the whole world. But here is what the hypocrite fails to see. Judgment is coming. Listen to The Almighty:
Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope [shall be as] the giving up of the ghost.
Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites [shall be] desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked [is] short, and the joy of the hypocrite [but] for a moment?
Job 31:3 [Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity?
Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Within every human being lies a hypocrite. To some degree, hypocrisy dwells in our flesh. We excuse ourselves for sins we condemn in others. As long as we are this side of heaven, we will never attain sinless perfection. A Christian is not a person who never fails or never sins. A Christian is a person who is not one person in private and another person at church. Their soul belongs to Christ. They long for purity of heart and motive in all that they do. They are broken when they sin. They own it. They are not acting like a follower of Jesus Christ. They follow Him daily, cross and all.
