Christianity: More Than A Religion

Hypocrisy

Let's be honest with ourselves. All of us have either been accused of being a hypocrite or have been a hypocrite at some point in our life but what does the Bible say about it? Matthew 7:5 says "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye". What Jesus is saying here is that we have to look at ourselves before we look at others. We as people are so quick to judge others and I know because I have done this so many times. Now Hypocrisy itself is "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense". We say stuff but it doesn't really add up with our behavior.  

Jesus says a lot of other stuff about this as well. Matthew 7:1-4 says "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye?" If we judge others we will be judged by God. No one is perfect but God which means his  judgement is perfect as well, and we cannot judge God because he is perfect.

Matthew 15:7-9 says "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men". They are hypocrites because of their behavior. Like it said, the people honored with their lips but their hearts were far. We need to give God everything we have including our heart. James 1:26 says "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless". This can be a hypocritical example too because the Pharisees got so caught up in there laws they did not follow God with there hearts. God is saying here that it is WORTHLESS if we don't follow him fully.

I really like this next verse. 1 John 4:20 says "If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen". Think of it like this: Let's say that someone did something wrong and the other person said he would not forgive him for what he did, and because of what he did the guy hated him for it. We have all done stuff wrong but everything we do wrong God forgives us for it. He hates sin but he does not hate us. In fact he still loves us NO MATTER WHAT! How can someone say he loves God when he has not seen him yet hate his brother who he has seen? You can't! Just as God forgave you, you should forgive a brother who has done wrong to you.