A hypocrite
Inspirational
I've Heard That All My Life!
Familiar Expressions from the Bible
Object:
Expression: A hypocrite
Location: Matthew 23:27
Verse: Woe unto you ... hypocrites! For ye are like unto [just like] whited [whitewashed] sepulchres [tombs], which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within [inside] full of dead men's [people's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
In school what did you learn as the definition of the word "hypocrite"? Simply said, a hypocrite is one who affects virtues or qualities he or she does not have.
Mel and Hank were coworkers. Mel felt that Hank needed a better relationship with God, to state it in a tactful way. Mel didn't attempt to preach to Hank, but he often dropped a phrase or two his way, hoping to shed a little light on the matter concerning a relationship with God. Mel hoped that the personal witness of his own life would say something to Hank without always having to use words.
One day Mel was rather shocked when Hank said, "Why don't you go to church with me next Sunday?"
Mel had no indication at all that Hank ever went to church. Mel smiled and quickly answered, "I certainly will." Mel saw this move as a way he might get a little closer to witnessing to Hank.
The next Sunday morning the two met and drove to Hank's church together. Mel had never been in this particular church and was very much looking forward to attending the service there.
They came to the church, parked the car, and went inside. Hank told Mel where he could sit. Hank said, "I'll be back later and we'll sit together when the worship service starts."
Mel took his seat, began to read the church bulletin for the worship service, and in a moment looked up to see Hank playing an entirely different role from what Mel had seen before.
This fellow, Hank, had placed a white carnation in his coat lapel, had a handful of bulletins, and was greeting people at the door. He was all smiles and saying proper things to the congregational members as they entered the door.
This was definitely not the person with whom Mel worked daily! During the week, Hank never showed any love or compassion for his fellow workers. During a normal week, Hank certainly displayed his greed, self-indulgence, selfishness, and crookedness in business dealings.
On this particular Sunday morning, this gentleman put on an excellent act with his piety, pomp, and splendor. He was what Henry H. Halley called an "irreligious professional religionist."
Mel sat there in the church pew completely stunned. Mel thought to himself, "What an actor. What a hypocrite."
The word "hypocrisy" actually comes from the Greek word hypokrisis, which means the act of playing a part on the stage. A hypocrite is an actor.
Hypocrites are referred to in the Bible in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah in the Old Testament and in Matthew, Mark, and Luke in the New Testament.
In Matthew 23:27, we find Jesus speaking to the multitudes and to his disciples about hypocrites. This simile of the whitewashed tomb may be a picture of many churchgoers today -- they are beautiful on the outside, but on the inside they are dead in trespasses and sins. They are not new creatures in Christ. They are merely good actors -- hypocrites.
Location: Matthew 23:27
Verse: Woe unto you ... hypocrites! For ye are like unto [just like] whited [whitewashed] sepulchres [tombs], which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within [inside] full of dead men's [people's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
In school what did you learn as the definition of the word "hypocrite"? Simply said, a hypocrite is one who affects virtues or qualities he or she does not have.
Mel and Hank were coworkers. Mel felt that Hank needed a better relationship with God, to state it in a tactful way. Mel didn't attempt to preach to Hank, but he often dropped a phrase or two his way, hoping to shed a little light on the matter concerning a relationship with God. Mel hoped that the personal witness of his own life would say something to Hank without always having to use words.
One day Mel was rather shocked when Hank said, "Why don't you go to church with me next Sunday?"
Mel had no indication at all that Hank ever went to church. Mel smiled and quickly answered, "I certainly will." Mel saw this move as a way he might get a little closer to witnessing to Hank.
The next Sunday morning the two met and drove to Hank's church together. Mel had never been in this particular church and was very much looking forward to attending the service there.
They came to the church, parked the car, and went inside. Hank told Mel where he could sit. Hank said, "I'll be back later and we'll sit together when the worship service starts."
Mel took his seat, began to read the church bulletin for the worship service, and in a moment looked up to see Hank playing an entirely different role from what Mel had seen before.
This fellow, Hank, had placed a white carnation in his coat lapel, had a handful of bulletins, and was greeting people at the door. He was all smiles and saying proper things to the congregational members as they entered the door.
This was definitely not the person with whom Mel worked daily! During the week, Hank never showed any love or compassion for his fellow workers. During a normal week, Hank certainly displayed his greed, self-indulgence, selfishness, and crookedness in business dealings.
On this particular Sunday morning, this gentleman put on an excellent act with his piety, pomp, and splendor. He was what Henry H. Halley called an "irreligious professional religionist."
Mel sat there in the church pew completely stunned. Mel thought to himself, "What an actor. What a hypocrite."
The word "hypocrisy" actually comes from the Greek word hypokrisis, which means the act of playing a part on the stage. A hypocrite is an actor.
Hypocrites are referred to in the Bible in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah in the Old Testament and in Matthew, Mark, and Luke in the New Testament.
In Matthew 23:27, we find Jesus speaking to the multitudes and to his disciples about hypocrites. This simile of the whitewashed tomb may be a picture of many churchgoers today -- they are beautiful on the outside, but on the inside they are dead in trespasses and sins. They are not new creatures in Christ. They are merely good actors -- hypocrites.
