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Matthew 23 – Not Quite A Hypocrite
Not quite a hypocrite. Eighteen times that word is found: All in the NT; 15 times in Matthew; 3 in Luke; only used by Jesus.
Such an easy word to throw around, to accuse others of being…and yet I wonder if those we call hypocrites actually are.
First, a hypocrite is someone who pretends to be something they are not by figuratively wearing a false face (literal meaning of “hypocrite”). They say one thing, but do another. Some I am sure know exactly what they are doing – they simply want the praise of men, or enjoy condemning others – just like the Pharisees Jesus condemned. Maybe others unintentionally are hypocrites. And maybe there are some who are not quite hypocritical.
It is so easy to look at professing Christians who live an immoral life and point the finger of accusation – Hypocrite. It is also too easy to look at so-called Believers who live a life of “moral worldliness” and denounce as duplicitous and two-faced. And yet these same sinners claim to be living the Christian life.
Maybe, just maybe they are not quite a hypocrite. Maybe, just maybe, they don’t know any better. They don’t realize that being a Christian is more than periodically praying and praising God. They haven’t embraced that Christianity is more than being a good neighbor. I don’t think these quasi-religious people are hypocrites. I just think they don’t understand what being a Christian is.
Looking inward at our churches, I wonder if we realize that being a Christian is more than weekly and semi-weekly attending church. Have we embraced that Christianity is more than just believing the right doctrine? Being a Christian is being like Christ.
Looking outward and inward at these people, I wonder…not quite a hypocrite…not quite a complete Christian either.
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