THERE are fundamentally two classes of men in the world; and as God sees them from His throne on high, they are often referred to in the Scriptures as the righteous and the wicked. And both are variously described to denote some particular features of their respective characters. For instance, the wicked are called, as the case requires, ungodly, vile men, unbelievers, hypocrites, and so on. The hypocrite is a peculiar and conspicuous type of wicked person, although not always easy to discern as such, while he feigns and professes to be what he is not, in the religious world and the visible Church of Christ.
Much is recorded in the Word of God to identify, expose and condemn the hypocrite and his hypocrisy, none being more severe, as well as faithful, in this matter, than the Lord Jesus Christ. He encountered many hypocrites during His days on earth, and addressed them in terms which revealed the divine knowledge He possessed of their hearts and true character. In Matthew, chapter xxiii, we read that He spake to the multitude and to His disciples concerning hypocrites and their practices. The scribes and the Pharisees were the objects of His holy indignation and scorn, being full of hypocrisy although they sat “in Moses’ seat”; and He gives warning against them as follows, “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say and do not” (Matt. xii. 3). And throughout this chapter, the meek and lowly Jesus brings to light one obnoxious and evil fact after another regarding these hypocrites, and pronounces a solemn “Woe” against them again and again; “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
We perceive in the light of all this, in what manner the spirit of the divine, tender and loving Saviour of sinners viewed the hypocrite. It was truly said of Him, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them”; and the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son teach, in a wonderful way, this great, precious, gospel truth. But it appears that the hypocrite is in a class by himself
among the sinful and wicked children of Adam. His hypocrisy is a mighty bulwark of the devil against the claims and gracious invitations of Him who came to seek and to save that which was lost; and not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. And yet He declares, “Woe unto you . . . hypocrites!”
Wherein lies the damning nature of hypocrisy? Is it not partly in the terrible fact that the hypocrite, by virtue of his own religion, rises superior, in his own estimation, to the divine way of salvation provided in the marvellous grace, mercy and wisdom of the everlasting God, through the Person and infinitely meritorious work of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. For there is not only transgression of the divine law involved in hypocrisy, but an utter rejection and disdaining of the whole scheme of salvation by grace; the views and practices of the hypocrite being positively and actively substituted for the same.
Whatever the hypocrite says or does which may appear consistent with gospel truth and practice, and however much he may deceive men, even godly and discerning persons, yet he remains the hypocrite, inasmuch as his heart and will cannot run in the ways of gospel doctrines and practices. This, the Son of God alone could search into with divine knowledge and accuracy. All the evil and wicked heart motions and activities of Judas were well known to Him, albeit the betrayer partook of the Last Supper and in the garden sought to kiss Him. And so the hypocrite possesses a miserable covering indeed over his heart which is always far off from God; while he concludes that he is a favourite of heaven and proceeds calmly on his way to eternity with a lie in his right hand. “Wherefore the Lord said, . . . this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” (Isa. xxix. 13).
This subject is not pleasant, but may be made profitable to precious souls by the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Hypocrisy to-day is rampant in the professing Christian Church, and has many characteristics and takes many forms; and must be repented of, watched against, and condemned by all who value their precious souls infinitely more so than a mere name to live among men. Indeed, multitudes of men and women who claim to be Christians and are recognised and regarded as such by their fellows, are nothing less, nothing more than hypocrites, in the light of the Word of God and judged by their opinions and conduct in relation to law and gospel. Their profession is qualified and vitiated by a settled refusal to accept the Scriptures, in their entirety, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, and by a mode of life wholly given over to the vanities and sins characteristic of worldlings who know not God and obey not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This applies to many who occupy pulpits, along with multitudes who regularly (or irregularly) partake of the Lord’s Supper.
The aforesaid type of hypocrite flourishes and is emboldened in his hypocrisy, where a substitute for the gospel of God’s grace is preached and where scriptural Church discipline is a thing of the past or feebly administered. Such are described by the Lord in Matthew xxiii. 23, ” . . ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith.” And so the general rule which prevails in many quarters at present is: support the Church with your presence and temporal substance and otherwise live as you please.
How deplorably sad the hypocrite’s state is. Hypocrisy is only for time. Eternity and the judgment seat of Christ will utterly abolish this evil and flimsy substitute for God’s salvation.
Now genuine and gracious believers upon Christ and Him crucified, are not ignorant of Satan’s devices in insinuating into their minds, that after all they have professed and practiced as Christians, that yet they are but hypocrites. To this suggestion the believer will in effect reply: “This may be so to my great shame and condemnation, but may God in His free and bountiful mercy deliver me from hypocrisy and bestow upon me the broken and contrite heart and the good fruits thereof in my life and conversation, and wash me in the most precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.” One thing the exercised child of God abhors in himself and others is a hypocritical spirit. But the hypocrite delights in his hypocrisy.