The last reflection reminded us that words and actions often betray the condition of our hearts, a truth taught in Matthew 15:18: “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” Leading up to this verse, however, Christ warns of those who choose words to try to hide what’s in the heart. In Matthew 15:8, Christ calls the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites and then quotes Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”
Sometimes people use spiritual-sounding words to mask a sinful heart. They believe they can say/do anything and escape accountability by communicating the opposite, as well. Often they make contradictory statements so they can claim any stance they want to in the future by pointing back to whichever statement they choose. When they think most people aren’t watching, selfishness and sinful desires govern their actions and mouths; but in public and on social media they put on a smile, pretend grace, and quote spiritual words. Hypocrisy is prevalent in every culture and generation, and Scripture offers several lessons for us regarding such deceit.
Consider the strong words of Proverbs 26:24-28: “Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” We are silly to believe that others’ opinions of us are more important than the truth of what God sees in our hearts. Lesson 1: Recognize and resist the temptation to deceive. If we don’t, eventually our hating heart will be exposed. God knows we’re tempted but loves us anyway and wants us to look to him for strength to possess that genuine spirituality we want to portray.
Lesson 2: Beware of the pretenders, and don’t let them fool you. Some reading this reflection are so honest they may have difficulty believing others could be hypocritical. In Romans 16:17-18, however, Paul warns that smooth talkers can cause trouble and encourages believers not to be gullible: “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve.” Paul isn’t promoting mistrust of everyone who communicates spirituality. Rather, he wants us to remember that troublemakers, those who oppose godly teaching and doctrine, or those who slander and cause division, may present a deceptive front of goodness. We need to be careful not to trust these people, thereby giving them the power to hurt and divide.
In Psalm 12:2-4, David grieves, “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, ‘With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?’” The foolish arrogance of the deceiver causes him to believe he’s winning some type of competition, and he forgets that God is the final referee.
Lesson 3: Take heart if you are the victim of the deceiver’s lies. Consider David’s words in Psalm 62: “For God alone my soul waits in silence. . . . How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? . . .They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken”(vv. 4-6).
Be wise and genuine. Don’t be fooled by pretenders. Let God be your fortress when you are the victim of others’ hypocrisy.