Do you Steal? Romans 2:21-22 Paul warning about some of the tell-tale signs of Hypocrisy: (Romans 2:21-22), “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? It is a careful student, and thus a careful teacher, who recognizes the fact that he cannot teach a person one thing and then practice something different! To do so breeds hypocrisy and results in the loss of good influence upon Christians and non-Christians. Yet, hypocrisy is an easy trap in which to fall! Many have played the hypocrite, while denying this reality. When we engage in careful self-examination we must ask, are we acting as hypocrites?

Definition: Hypocrite Old Testament: “one defiled in mind and conscience, yet concealing it, and pretending to be outwardly what he is not inwardly.” (Wilson’s O.T. Word Studies, p. 224). New Testament: “primarily one who answers, then a stage-actor; hence the word became used metaphorically as a dissembler, a hypocrite” (Vine’s, p. 582). In other words, one who says one thing and does another, a pretender.

Pretend to Be Someone You Are Not: Jews (John 8:44) Jacob (Genesis 27) Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5) Sadly, there are those who are “Christians in name only”. In other words, they are hypocrites. While they pretend to be Christians, they are actually children of the Devil (John 8:44), “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (Genesis 27:18-29), READ [Jacob gained advantage through deceit. This is what it is to act the hypocrite]. (Acts 5:1-4) READ [Pretended to be unselfish, but were selfish. Acts 5 shows us that hypocrisy is a vulgar thing that needs to be avoided at all costs.]

Teach one thing, and then do another: Common: “Do as I say, not as I do.” Don’t be like the Pharisees! (Matthew 23:4-5) This does not work! (Special trap of parents) This concept was what the apostle Paul was fighting against in Romans 2. How sad it is to see the transparent efforts of some to teach others the way of God while they themselves act as the Devil! [click] (Matthew 23:4-5), “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men…” If you are like this, rest assured, people will see through you. Seldom will you fool anyone for long! God is never fooled by such actions!

Conclusion: It is up to all of us to keep away from hypocrisy, and make sure it is not in our lives. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (2 Corinthians 13:5), “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified.” Are you a pretender? Do you teach others that “now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2), but live like judgment and death will never come? Do not be a hypocrite! Live for Christ! Who knows what good we can do in the Lord’s kingdom when we live that sincere, genuine life, that reflects Christ in all we do (Galatians 2:20), “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”