HYPOCRISY

In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. —Matthew 23:28

Who are you? Who you are is answered by who you are on the inside. The inner person is really who you are. Many people can put on an outward appearance which is totally different from who they are on the outside. Now, we all do this to some degree, but if there is a huge difference of who we portray to others on the outside from who we really are on the inside then that is hypocrisy and deception.

In the above verse Jesus is talking to the religious leaders who are outwardly appearing to live a righteous life, appear to be living right before God. But Jesus said on the inside they were actually full of hypocrisy and wickedness. It was not a matter of them failing here and there as they sought to live a right life before God, no, they were filled with hypocrisy and wickedness.

What are you and I filled with on the inside? Who are we truly on the inside? Do our outward actions truly indicate who we are on the inside and does who we are on the inside motivate our outward actions? Or, are we truly being a hypocrite, playing a part and putting a mask on as to whom we really are on the inside by acting a part on the outside? As followers of Jesus may our outside actions clearly be motivated by who we truly are on the inside. There should be consistency between the two.

Dear Father, please help me to seek to live godly, holy and faithfully that my inner person would truly honor You and my outward actions would be an encouragement to others around me. May it be so in the authority of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit’s power.