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Apr 25, 2024 06:00am

Unveiling Hypocrisy

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I was listening to a conversation where they were really coming down on a certain group of people, furious at what they were doing. But as I listened, I thought, but you’re doing the exact same thing as they were; it’s just flipped.

But in their minds, they were right. And to challenge their thinking would just be unheard of.

Do you ever feel that?

Let’s look at how Jesus handled that type of situation.

John 10:30-39
“I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand.”

Jesus declared His deity by saying, “I and my Father are one.” It was the truth, but to the religious Jews, it was the worst of the worst. Such words could never be uttered, and they were ready to stone Him for blasphemy.

In verses 34-36, Jesus asks how they could accuse Him of blasphemy when they were doing the same thing.

He’s referring to Psalm 82:6, where the Israelite judges were called “gods” because God called them to fill a position and execute His will. How could they consider what Jesus was doing blasphemous and not themselves?

That’s a pot calling the kettle black.

Jesus wasn’t guilty, and neither were the judges God called.

In this tense situation, with tempers flaring, hatred, and anger behind each hand holding a stone, Jesus never faltered. He stood in the midst and continued His mission.

“Even if you don’t believe me, at least believe the works so you can know God and be saved.”

Goodness. What an incredible display of compassion.

But that’s not what they wanted to hear.

His words struck a chord, and they were even more furious. They picked up their stones yet again to kill Him.

So, He left.

John 10:40-42
“And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42 And many believed in him there.”

Sometimes, the truth falls on deaf ears. People think they already know, and they’ve got it all figured out. No one is going to change their mind.

And sometimes, you have to realize when it’s time to just walk away. Shake the dust off your feet as they would in that day and move on.

Because someone is waiting to hear and believe.