“YOU HYPOCRITE!”

 Matthew 7:1-5                                (ESV)

“1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.

2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?

5 “YOU HYPOCRITE”, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

Reading words used often by others can be dangerous, especially when those words have a meaning that is different than what is meant.  While I’m not saying these words are always misused, IF they are used in the wrong context, the results might be catastrophic!  Eternity could depend on whether one SEES clearly what has been said to them, and if they KNOW the ONE SPEAKING to them!  

JESUS, GOD IN THE FLESH, called those who say ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye” YOU HYPOCRITE”!  What does the word HYPOCRITE mean?  One dictionary says this of the word HIPOCRISY:

Hypocrisy 

The practice of having moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform; pretense

from the Greek word hupokrisis’ acting a theatrical part; from hupokrinesthai, play a part, pretend

When I read this, it saddened me because there a MANY people who are living a fairy tale existence, doing their best to fulfill the role of a Christian, when the RELATIONSHIP with THE CREATOR has never entered the hearts nor minds.  JESUS HIMSELF says in Luke 9:23-24 “And HE (JESUS) said TO ALL, "If anyone would come after ME, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow ME.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for MY sake will save it.” 

Are you willing to LOSE YOUR LIFE for anything, especially when the thing you are losing it to can’t be physically seen, felt, or touched?  If you aren’t willing to LOSE YOUR LIFE to follow CHRIST and HIS teachings, you could be apart of the “YOU HYPOCRITE” movement, a person who is “acting a part or pretending” to be a Christian?  

Later on in the same chapter JESUS says “On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'” We would do ourselves tremendous harm if we allow “the enemy” to keep us distracted AND DECEIVED until it is TOO LATE!  Life is NOT a game, NOR A THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE!  To hear DEPART , or “YOU HYPOCRITE”, will be the saddest words that will be heard on that day!!!