DCLM Higher Everyday 19 June 2024 — Hypocrisy Rebuked
Topic: Hypocrisy Rebuked
Text: Romans 2:17-29
17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Key Verse: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preaches a man should not steal, dost thou steal?… Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God” (Romans 2:21,23)?
Message
Hypocrisy is the practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticizes others. A hypocrite is a pretender. Mark Cahill stated, “The number one reason people don’t share their faith is that their walk doesn’t match their talk.” No human knows your heart like you do. A hypocritical youth may be regular at the church services and claim to believe the truth of the gospel but deep down he or she is a pretender and finds faults with almost everything.This is what our Lord Jesus says about hypocrites: “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5).
In our text, Paul rebuked those hypocritical Jews outright. As leaders, they compelled others to do tasks they themselves would not do. They taught the people God’s words but did not do them. Are you a true Christian? If yes, then live the life of Christ at all times, both in the secret and in the open.
Quote: A hypocrite is a pretender
Challenge: Rebuke and avoid hypocrites.
Prayer for today: Lord, deliver me from hypocrisy, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
