The Healing of Hypocrisy

The Healing of Hypocrisy | Rom 2: 17-24 | Ian Goodman
Paul writes, 17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonour God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Hypocrisy is always forcefully opposed by God and especially by the Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry. We also notice this is the second time it’s mentioned in this very chapter, indicating the level of disdain Paul has for hypocrisy, and the level we ought to have.
There are several reasons for this:
- Hypocrisy if the combining of two sins together: a particular sin, together with lying about having committed that particular sin.
- Hypocrisy undermines our ability to repent
- Hypocrisy makes us more judgmental, as we seek to divert attention away from ourselves and make ourselves seem more righteous.
- BUT worst of all, hypocrisy dishonours God and makes the watching world into blasphemers as they see our hypocrisy.
What’s the solution to this?
One solution would be to simply stop sinning. That would make us no longer hypocrites. While this is a nice thought it’s far easier said than done. We are sinners, and will remain so till our glorious final liberation. The other solution is to repent, deeply, honestly, regularly, and perhaps publicly.
How do we do this, since it is our fear of judgment and public disapproval that leads to hypocrisy in the first place? How can we overcome this fear? The answer is, we do this in the safety of the shadow of the cross. Only when you know you are safe and forgiven, and that nothing you have done will undermine your salvation--only then can we be truly honest and go down to the depth of our sin and repent of it. In the shadow of the cross our fear is dealt with, and we are free to repent!