HYPOCRITES!!!

7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mat 15:8-9

The above verses were produced as a result of the discourse between the Lord Jesus, the Scribes and Pharisees when they confronted Jesus about his disciples breaking the law by not washing their hands before the eat. In a wise but in a hypocritical way, they meant to accuse Christ of breaking the law since he was their master or teacher; and classify him as a deceptive leader. Christ also in response asked, “why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” By this question Christ effectively dealt with the duplicitous ways of the Pharisees and Scribes: perverting the ways of God, and misconstruing the commandment of God. The Lord hence labels them hypocrites (pretenders, two faced, actors – one who assumes a character that he or she is not; a stage player).

Let’s not forget that Christ was addressing the Scribes and Pharisees those who wrote out the law, classified and arranged its precepts; the teachers of the law of God. Assume how spiritual, religious, "holier than thou" they portrayed to be! The Pharisees and Scribes were experienced in the piety and expressions of intimacy but their love was not from within. They knew the law, forms of worship; they were very strict in observing of the traditions and kept the law outwardly but refused to submit their heart to God which symbolizes the wholeness and totality of their being. Therefore their worship was an offensive odor before God.

Likewise, the Church of Christ has become very excellent in the dynamics of intimate expression of worship but has deviated from the course of intimacy. We are well experienced hypocrites in the house of God. We fast, pray, read the bible, etc yet living unashamedly and deliberately in sin. We lust after peoples wives in our heart, entertain filthy pornographic thought, masturbate every now and then, drink alcohol, smoke, etc and have the audacity to lead His Church or call ourselves by His name. We are hypocrites not Christians! We have drawn close with our tithing, offering, our punctuality, servitude in the church and spiritual “gymnastics” but our heart is dark towards Him. We know all the church songs, the sermons, and even how the order of the service would be yet we have not been able to move heavens. Our hearts are twisted (not in line with the Lords word) before God. Hence any worship offered has no meaning as that of the Pharisees and Scribes.

The Lord is displeased! How can we say we love God yet live in fornication, and adultery, walk in bitterness and offenses? How can we tell lies here a little and there a little, categorize it as joking and offer praise to God thinking He will accept it? How can we say we love God dearly yet hate our brethren in the same youth ministry: if a man says he loves God but hates his brother he is a liar (1 Jn 4:20). Religiousness has caused us to be very experienced in expressions, pieties, eloquence towards God but not experience Him or His power. We must understand that a good expression does not mean that we are accepted. The truth of the matter is that God desires our heart more that the word we speak or the expression we display.

God by his word wants us to understand that any worship that is not from a righteous and a holy heart is worthless. He will not accept it the sacrifice of the hypocrite, or entertain the wicked in his presence.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 15:8

16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
Ps 50:16-17