3.—THE RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITE
THE most scathing invective that ever fell from the lips of Christ was reserved for His denunciation of those who " drew nigh unto Him with their lips, but whose hearts were far from Him." Mere lifeless profession is one of the great devices of the enemy of souls, who well knows how to transform himself into an angel of light.
It was the religious leaders of Christ's day who were the most prominent in their hatred of the Lord's teaching; and it was through envy and falsehood that the scribes and Pharisees delivered Him over to the civil power.
It was when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things which Jesus did, that they were sore displeased as the "hosannas" of the children rang in His ears; and vainly did they seek to catch Him in His words, when He ruthlessly exposed their hollow profession. Great in his zeal for the tradition of the elders, was the Pharisee, who, having asked the Lord to dine with him, “marveled that He had not first washed before dinner." And the Lord said unto him," Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.”
“Fools!" added the Son of God," did not He that made that which is without make that which is within also?... Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone... Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them " (Luke 11:37-4437And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. 38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. 39And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 40Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? 41But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. 42But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 43Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. 44Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. (Luke 11:37‑44)).
Whether it be the proud conceit of Simon, who understood not the grace of Christ in forgiving the sinful woman who wept at His feet, or the contemptuous sneers cast on the publican by the self-sufficient Pharisee who went up to the temple to pray, the Lord's words to all such religious hypocrites apply with equal force today. "Fools!" "Ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so, ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity... How can ye escape the damnation of hell" (Matt. 23)? No wonder is it that the Searcher of hearts should call them "fools," and put them in the same category as the infidel and the careless worldling!
Let us then, dear reader, take heed to the Lord's solemn and warning words. For God demands truth in the inward parts; and it is there He would have us to know wisdom. "Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Prov. 1:3333But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:33)). Real, however, we must all be with God, for it is with Him we have to do; and, sooner or later, all who are unreal now and content to wear the garment of a false religion, will be stripped of all their filthy rags, and, as they stand before Him, will be "found naked.”
The end of all this mere profession is solemnly depicted by the Lord in the case of the five virgins, with their oil-less lamps, whom He calls "foolish"; whereas the other five, with their brightly burning lamps, He justly calls "wise"; for when the Bridegroom came they were "ready." Yes, they were ready, and, as having the lamp of God's salvation and possessors of the oil of His Spirit, they went in with Him to the marriage. And "the door was shut." When mercy's door closes it will prove the eternal doom of all religious hypocrites, and to the bitter but unavailing cry of “Lord, Lord, open to us," the only answer they receive will be, “Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”
Dear reader, ere yet it be too late, cast away your garment of self-righteousness, and take from God's own hand the divine righteousness He offers you now in Christ, and then, as a true believer, you will be able to sing:—
“Clad in this robe, how bright I shine,
Angels possess not such a dress;
Angels have not a robe like mine,
Jesus, the Lord, my righteousness.”
S. T.