Hypocrisy

Matthew 15:7-8

7Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their hearts are far from me.

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about how defilement is from within. In this case it was from the perspective of honoring parents. The Pharisees had a lot of traditions but they were only motions. Their hearts were not in it. Jesus quoted a scripture from the book of Isaiah who was a prophet God called to prophesy about the coming of Jesus. Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites. A hypocrite is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings and who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. So Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah to say that if your words do not match your heart then it is off. Jesus is concerned with the condition of our hearts first because whatever is in the heart will undoubtedly come out sooner or later.

Atlantic Starr had a song back in the 80s' called, "If Your Heart Isn't In it". Granted, this was from a romantic point of view, but it was still about love. Love is at the center of Jesus' ministry. Love is at the root because God is love. But if everything you do is the opposite of love then is it not hypocrisy?

P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Show from 10am-12pm Monday-Friday on the Leap of Faith Network (www.lofnetwork.com) and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!