“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:5
“WOE UNTO YOU, HYPOCRITES!” These words were spoken with no wavering tone. They were the words of one who knew no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. They were the words of one who was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. They were the words of Jesus Christ as he rebuked the religious leaders of his day for their vanity, their self-righteousness, and their grotesque hypocrisy. These words may have been uttered two thousand years ago, but they remain as applicable to our degenerate, deceitful modern society as they did to first century Palestine.
We hear so often the word “hypocrite”, but what does the word mean? There are many ways of defining this term. One definition would rightly be, “One who thinks another is a worse sinner than himself.” Another definition, “One who condemns others for doing the very things that he does.” Another definition, “A self-righteous fool who looks down on others, and rebukes them for their sins, but does not allow anyone to rebuke him for his sins, but, on the contrary, thinks he is beyond reproach.” Though all three are accurate, I find the third definition to be most appropriate.
What are the characteristics of the hypocrite? A readiness to pounce upon others shortcomings, but a pathetically self-righteous arrogance and feigned indignance when others dare to say anything about your deliberate misdeeds. A mindset which believes that what others do is so outrageous and evil, but what you do is innocent and trivial, even if it is ten times worse and more despicable than what others do. A delusional belief that you are so much better than everybody else, and that nobody has any right to expose your foul sins, though you suppose yourself to be qualified to expose everyone’s sins, even if yours are far worse.
Now, you may fume that somebody lied to you, but what right do you have to do so, when you have lied to others a thousand times, and without the slightest bit of remorse for having deceived them? You may rage that somebody broke his word, but what right do you have to do so, when you make so flippant a habit of breaking your word, without the slightest regard for those who were depending on you to keep it. You may snarl that somebody is vain, but what right do you have to do so, when you are vain yourself?
I ask you, reader, to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If you complain about the unbiblical sentiments which unbelievers espouse, yet do not so much as read your Bible or pray for others, you are a hypocrite. If you whine about nativity scenes being removed from public places, yet could not recite even one verse in the Bible, you are a hypocrite. If you applaud the mention of John 3:16, but keep silent concerning Matthew 5:44, you are a hypocrite. If you expect everyone to be selfless and loving toward you, but do not intend to be selfless and loving toward others, you are a hypocrite. If you slander and gossip about others, but become outraged when others slander and gossip about you, you are a hypocrite. If you lie to others, but become enraged when others lie to you, you are a hypocrite. If you see no issue in your sins, but take much issue with others’ sins, you are a hypocrite.
Did you see that? I said, YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE, and you would do well to get on your face before God Almighty, and beg him to expunge this disgusting hypocrisy from your system.
Here lies the proper application of Matthew 7:1-5, which is so often deployed by hypocrites as a means of staving off necessary critique of their wicked actions, while giving them license to berate and belittle others. Christ condemned the hypocritical act of disparaging somebody for their actions, when your actions are just as bad, if not far worse, than theirs. Perhaps you should keep that in mind, before you squeal “Judge not” when somebody attempts to rightfully expose your repulsive hypocrisy. Biblical discernment is not forbidden by the Scriptures, but a “holier-than-thou” attitude and alacrity in discovering faults in others most certainly is.
CONCLUSION
“Out of 100 men,” observed Dwight Moody, “one will read the Bible; the other 99 will read the Christian.” If you are a Christian, your hypocrisy is hindering the work of God. Why should unbelievers come to Christ, when they see they will be surrounded by self-righteous hypocrites, backstabbers, and sanctimonious fools like yourself? No hypocrite is as repulsive as the religious hypocrite, yet whether you are a religious hypocrite, or an infidel hypocrite, or any other brand of hypocrite, woe unto you. Woe unto your hypocrisy! You are disgusting. The very thought of your pathetic, inexcusable, despicable behavior makes me sick. It makes me want to vomit. It gives me nausea. I loathe it. Yet, far more importantly, God loathes it, and you will have no excuse when you give account to him for your evil works. So I say, as my Savior said, “WOE UNTO YOU, HYPOCRITES!”