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Hypocrisy is rampant
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By Merrill Olson
One of the actions the Lord despises is hypocrisy (Matthew 23:25-33). He said to the scribes and Pharisees, “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness” (v. 27).
A hypocrite is a person who is pretending to be someone that one is not. In the New Testament, understanding hypocrisy or hypocrite has to do with Greek drama and wearing a mask. Whereby, the person is imitating the mannerisms, speech, and character of the person being portrayed.
Therefore, Jesus throughout His ministry denounced and exposed many of those who opposed Him. They were people who paraded themselves before others by praying, fasting, and doing charitable deeds to win their praise. But inside of them they were “full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness.” They were like “white washed tombs” (Matt. 23:27). They were full of extortion and self-indulgence.
Yet, hypocrisy is rampant in many different areas including the political realm. “The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor” (Proverbs 11:9a). So, a godless person can defame another person merely by what he or she says. One political party in American is slandering another person of a different party using derogatory words. Yet, they themselves are full of godlessness and hypocrisy. They may do unlawful acts but turn around and slander the other party or a person accusing them of doing the same thing. They act as though they are above the law, and godless judges protect them from being brought to justice.
Therefore, these same people will be brought before the divine throne of God’s judgment. Because they are filled with hypocrisy, they bear evidence to being unsaved. Thus, the Great White Throne is their destiny (Rev. 20:10-15). They will cry out for mercy but that is ended. All of their sins, slanders, lies, hypocrisy, and many other evil deeds will be brought before them. They will stand condemned. No excuses will alter the verdict! And they will hear their final sentencing to the “lake of fire” (v. 15). This will not be temporary but forever!
But the most important point to consider amidst the hypocrisy is that these individuals are unregenerate, spiritually dead to God. Oh, they may belong to some church and confess their sins, but inside they are nothing but “full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness.” They lack Christ’s righteousness (Phil. 3:9).
For us who know God’s truth in Christ Jesus, it is discouraging to sit by the TV and listen to the hypocrisy. I can only take so much, and I shut it off! But we must continue to live our lives following the Lord Jesus, our Savior, and seek to stand for His truth! He wins in the end! We will also because we are His! We live our lives by the promises of God! We are merely sojourners (1 Peter 1:17-19).
Merrill Olson served as a senior pastor for thirty-four years. He received a B.S. from Minnesota State University-Mankato, an M. Div. from Bethel Theological Seminary, and a D. Min. from Columbia Evangelical Seminary. He is currently involved as an interim pastor along with a teaching and writing ministry. His emphasis is on apologetics and training believers to defend their faith in Christ from God’s Word. He is well versed in Bible prophecy as it pertains to end times. He is a gifted speaker with the conviction that only by the Word of God can people experience inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. He and his wife, Jan, reside in Minnesota and have two daughters and four delightful grandchildren.