Today’s Reading | Matthew 23
Signs of a Hypocrite
How many times does Jesus use the word hypocrites in this chapter? Circle them in your Bible, and write your definition of a hypocrite. Do the Pharisees fit your definition? You could summarize hypocrisy from this chapter in two ways. One, it occurs when the motivation for your religious actions is not done out of love for God, but is done in order to be noticed by men. You may be doing good things, but you do them to fit in, or get noticed by others, or so that they think you are acceptable. It is not because you love God. Second, it occurs when your appearance is not a true reflection of what is inside. These two would be good definitions for a hypocrite – someone who does things for the wrong reason or whose talk is different from his walk. Would either of these categories be true of your life? What is your motivation for the religious things you do? Is what people think about you really true on the inside? Examine your life and determine what areas may be hypocritical. Begin now to correct them. If you need help,, talk to your chaplain or another believer in your unit.
Today’s Questions
Say What?
Observation: What do I see?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do?