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"You hypocrite, first take the plank
out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove
the speck from your brother's eye". St. Mark 7 v 5.
The English word hypocrite comes from the Greek
word for actor. The hypocrite plays a part, appears other
than who and what he is, says one thing and thinks another.
In common useage the hypocrite is someone whose
character and conduct contradict his claim to be a good Christian.
Hypocrisy is often garbed in the robe of religion. Whatever
the reason for his duplicity the pretence is odious, for the
hypocrite by his insincerity and dishonesty turns others away
from faith. The response to him can be, "if he is a Christian,
I want no part of a Christianity that has him in it."
Jesus speaks of Jews who made long prayers in
public places, wore on their faces the mask of piety, went
through the motions of worship but were insincere and insensitive
to the importance of what they said and did. Jesus condemned
such people in the strongest terms.
When Samuel had the task of choosing a king
for Israel he interviewed the sons of Jesse. Among them was
the especialy handsome and talented Eliab, but Samuel refused
him also for as the schoolboy told me, "He was all right
on the outside, but not on the inside."
It was said of Sarah Bernhardt, the famous actress
that while she played the most tender and romantic roles to
melt the hearts of rapt audiences, and wanted everyone to
see her as such a person, gracious and kind, she was a terror
to work with or she was devoured with animosity against anyone
she thought had not properly respected her. Like Eliab she
was all right on the outside but not on the inside. John Bunyan
described someone as "Saint abroad devil at home."
There are always those who honour God with their
lips, but their hearts are far from Him, Matthew Henry claimed.
"Hypocrites do the devil's drudgery in Christ's livery."
C. H. Spurgeon warned:"When you see a man with a great
deal of religion displayed in his shop window, you may depend
upon it he keeps a very small stock of it within." Hypocrisy
will be found out. A plain looking secretary had a posy of
flowers delivered to her at work every week to the surprise
and envy of her colleagues. One day a much larger bouquet
of roses was delivered. The girl was shocked and cried out:
"But I didn't order them." She realised, when she
had confessed her little trick, that she really had an admirer.
The real thing exposed the hollowness of the masquerade. There
was a happy ending for her and her admirer.
Regrettably, most unmaskings, disclosures of
pretence have bad consequences.
There are many Biblical warnings on hypocrisy.
Jesus spoke of ravening wolves in sheep's clothing. He was
transparent, totally without pretence. His life was of a piece
with no contradicitons. It was said of Him: "Alone among
men, his practice was adequate to his precept, so that no
distinction has to be drawn between what he said, and what
he did, so that his teaching only expounds his life and his
life only enforces his teaching."
Honesty is an imperative in our dealing with
God with ourselves and with other people. When we cease to
be true and faithful to God, there can be no expectation of
honesty with ourselves or others. The Christian is called
to follow Christ, and to live as He did, honestly, honourably,
generously and courageously; to stand firm for truth whatever
the consequences and to have a good conscience from doing
what he had to do to the best of his ability. "Conscience
is the voice of God in the soul of man." Izaak Walton
pleaded. "Let us be thankful for health and competence,
and above all for a quiet conscience."
It is a matter of character and conduct. Character
is the product of personal exertion, not inherited, not given
or received from an external source, not from wealth or talent
but from experiences of life and how we react to them. It
is how we have chosen the right or the wrong way to live.
On conduct William Penn said: "A man like a watch, is
to be valued on his manner of going." James 1:22 has
it, "Be ye doers of Word and not hearers only."
First Samuel 2:3 had this centuries earlier, "The Lord
is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."
James 3:17 says: "The wisdom that comes
from God is first utterly pure, then peace loving, gentle,
approachable, full of tolerant thoughts and kindly actions,
with no breath of favouritism or hint of hypocrisy."
Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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