The Hypocrites

The word hypocrisy is a term of Greek origin that points to the art of playing a theatrical role. The theater, as is known, originated in the way we know today in Greece, as manifestations of homage to the Greek god of wine, known as Bacchus or Dionysus. And what did the actors do (or do) when they are acting? They pretend. Hypocrisy is the act of pretending, of representing, of playing a role, that is, of passing the image of being something that is not. That's how the Pharisees were. It is the world. This is a great part of Christianity. Jesus points out in his words two basic characteristics that denounce our hypocrisy.

1. The Adoration of the Mouth out.

There are many ways to position yourself before God. There are those who deny its existence. They are the atheists. There are those who recognize its existence, but that does not make any difference in their lives. Is the world. There are those who recognize its existence, serve it and obey it. They are the worshipers. And there are those who live like the world, but want to be seen as worshipers. They are the hypocritical Pharisees. Just look at Matthew 6: 5. They are the pretending ones.

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets to be seen by men ..."

"His heart is far from me." The question is: What is really important to you? What time does it occupy your life? How much do you have care for him and his things? What part of your heart does Jesus occupy?

If we live with Christ and accept that he is only the third, fourth, fifth in our scale of amounts and priorities, we need to accept the fact that our heart is still far from him and that our worship has been a great waste of time. , simply by the fact that he only fits the first place and, any other place that is given to him, will not work. My heart first is of Jesus. After my family, church, work, study, etc. Especially because I know that if you put that in the first place, you will take care of me (Matthew 6:33).

Therefore, before kneeling down, raising our hands, crying aloud, praising God with the hope that he will hear us, let us make the following reflection: he is already a priority in my life, or I still do not an actor playing a role, representing before God or men? Psalm 78: 35-36 exposes this reality:

"They remembered that God was their rock, of which the Most High God was their Redeemer, yet they flattered him with their mouths, and with their tongues they lied to him"

It is the cult of pretense. A complete waste of time. If God does not occupy the first place in his life, there will be no way like him to speak louder. If it is the money that occupies the first place in your life, then it is the money that will speak loudest. If it is lasciviousness, it will be lasciviousness. If it is vanity, it will be vanity. And there comes the second complaint against our feigned behavior.

1. The False Doctrine

Now, nothing more just that false believers are content with false doctrines. And this is where the greatest danger that can happen in the middle of the church lies.

Notice that there are a number of misconceptions that were thrown in the middle of the church and that profoundly contradict the Word of God:

a) God receives every prayer that is made to him. Isaiah 59: 2 and Proverbs 28: 9 says the opposite.
b) That every place that is speaking of God is for me. I Corinthians 4: 6 and Matthew 5:18 do not agree. And it is Christ himself, in the sequence (v.7) who explains the differential: the insertion of doctrines of men in the midst of his doctrine.

One of the greatest absurdities of the Christian church, if not the greatest one, is to agree, accept and compact with human customs, teachings and traditions within the church as if they were God's things. It was all that Satan wanted. The same error of the Pharisees who did not receive Christ, being committed by those who were rescued from the curse of the Law by the blood of the Lamb. A series of teachings that do not find even a comma of biblical support spread in the middle of the church and became doctrine along with the Word of God. And with that they led away the men of God and God from men.

This is what Jesus meant when he spoke of the 'leaven' of the Pharisees in Matthew 16: 11-12. The disciples themselves understood that it referred to their doctrine, their teachings. Word of God mixed with the customs of men. And that does not produce worshipers, but pretenders. And the worst, because of that, and the negligence that people have in relation to the Word of God, many end up accommodating themselves to that pretense. And they will end up being as victims as those who taught them ...

"But woe unto you, scribes and hypocritical Pharisees! Shut up the kingdom of heaven from men, for you yourselves neither introduce nor let those who are coming go" (Matthew 23:13).
"In vain do they honor me"

How hard is that phrase. When could it enter our head that worshiping God could be a useless act, that is, without any utility? That is what the text means. "Go" is that which has no effect, is waste of time, produces no result. It is like someone who strives to get to a place, and upon arriving, perceives that the doors were closed five minutes ago and says: "So much effort in vain ...". Unfortunately, Christianity is impregnated with vain adoration, that which is guided by a fermented cult. And this is what the Lord says in Ezekiel 33:31.

"They come to you, as the people usually come, and settle before you as my people, and hear your words, but do not put them into practice, for they flatter with their mouth, but their heart goes after the gain."

For our adoration to be received by God, she must be in complete conformity with her Word. And that includes rejecting any kind of custom or tradition that does not find shelter in his Word. Stop that misguided and dangerous idea that any cult where you are talking about God is good and is producing adoration. Because that is how the Pharisees acted. Or did someone forget that they were the greatest shepherds of Israel? Those who directed the works in the temple and in the synagogues? Did they talk about God or not? Obviously yes, but at the same time, look at what Jesus says in verse 9.

Do not be fooled. There is only worship if the Word of God is the center. Without anything being added or removed. We do not need another source. We do not need to pretend. And the only way to know if we are pretending or not is by observing if we are satisfied only with the Law of the Lord, and if we are rejecting anything that does not come from it, even if it is looking nice, even if you agree, even if you find that God agrees, run away from that. Or your worship will be completely useless.

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