Morning Moments

Consider the following from the Disciples Prayer.

God's Paternity "Our Father" 6:9a

God's Place "which art in heaven" 6:9b

God's Preeminence "hallowed would be Thy Name" 6:9c

God's Plan "Thy kingdom come" 6:10a

God's Purpose "Thy will be done" 6:10b

God's Perspective "in earth, as...in heaven" 6:10c

God's Provision "our daily bread" 6:11

God's Pardon "forgive us...as we forgive" 6:12

God's Protection "lead us not into temptation" 6:13a

God's Power "thine is the kingdom" 6:13b

Jesus said, "When you pray, pray not as the hypocrites...."

"Nobody is tempted to pretend in private. We show off only when we have an audience. Hypocrisy is a group activity." Gene Shelburne1

The Greek word for hyprocrite is "hupokrites", which originally did not have a negative meaning. It meant 1) an interpreter of oracles, 2) an orator, 3) A reciter (as in poetry), 4)an actor. But the word evolved into more than just a bad word, into an actively evil word.2

It is easy to understand when we see how it communicate several lines of thought -

ˆOne who goes in for play-acting goodness. He wants everyone to see him give alms (Mt 6:2), to see him pray (Mt 6:5), to know that he is fasting (Mt 6:16). He is the one whose goodness is designed, not to please God, but to please man. He says, "to God be the glory, but to me be the credit."

ˆOne who, in the very name of religion, breaks the laws of God. He is the man who says that he cannot help his parents because he had dedicated his belongings to the service of God (Mt 15:7; Mk 7:5); the man who refuses to help a sick person on the Sabbath, because it would break the Sabbath Law, although he will see to the comfort of his animals (Lk 13:15). He prefers his idea of religion to God's.

ˆOne who conceals his true motives under a cloak of pretence. One who asks Biblical questions for the purpose of entangling the teacher (Mk 12:15; Mt 22:18). A subtle schemer with deceptive words.

ˆOne who hides an evil heart under a cloak of piety (Mt 23:28). He goes through the outward motions of religion while in his heart there is pride and arrogance, bitterness and hatred. He is the kind of person who never fails to go to church and never fails to condemn a sinner. His pride mocks humility.

ˆOne who becomes blind. He can read the weather, but cannot read the signs of the times (Lk 12:56). He has deceived others until he believes his own deceit.
ˆThe One who in the cause of religion, seduces others from the right way (Gal 2:13; 1 Tim 4:2; 1 Pet 2:1). He persuades others to listen to him instead of God.

ˆOne under the ultimate condemnation of God (Mt 24:51).

Hypocrisy is the most subtle of all sins. It is the easiest to fall into and the most utterly condemned in Scripture.

PRAYER: Lord, teach us to pray.