Don't Be A Hypocrite

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."  Luke 6:41-42 (NIV)

These words of Jesus were recorded by Luke, the physician and travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  As part of The Sermon on The Mount, Jesus told the people not to be hypocrites.  He said that they should not be so concerned about the faults and sins of others while being unaware of their own sins and shortcomings.  They could not be a help to others if their own sins got in the way.

The word "hypocrite" initially referred to an actor who put on a mask to perform a role.  Today it has come to mean a person who acts in contradiction to their stated beliefs or feelings.  A person who puts on a false appearance of virtue.  Unfortunately, too many "religious" people put on an act and pretend to be holy and Christ-like when they are around certain people.  We need to be honest with God, ourselves, and with others with respect to who we really are.  We need to be honest about our shortcomings and our struggles with our own sins.  Pretending and being less than truthful regarding who we are, is not going to help us in our efforts to spread The Word of God to those whom we know and whom we meet.  Our words and actions will reveal if we are, or are not true believers in Christ.  A good person will produce good, while and evil pretender will bring forth evil. (Luke 6:45)  Our words and deeds should match the beliefs which we profess. (Romans 8:5-8)  God is not pleased by those who pretend to be what they are not. (Isaiah 9:17)  If we are to be a help to others, then our own lives must be an example to others of that which we speak. (John 13:15, Romans 6:4, 1 Timothy 4:12, James 1:22, and 1 Peter 2:21)   We need to strive, with God's help, to be more Christ-like.