Hypocrisy 

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:5 (NIV)

I recently heard a story about Mahatma Ghandi that made me think of the scripture above. The story goes that a mother brought her daughter to Ghandi asking him to persuade her daughter to stop eating junk food such as sweets and chocolates that were not good for her. The great Ghandi asked the mother to come back in three weeks. Three weeks later he obliged the lady by gently encouraging the young girl to give up her sweets and chocolates. The puzzled mother asked why he couldn’t have said that three weeks ago, whereupon Ghandi replied that three weeks ago he had not given up sweets and chocolates!

Maybe Ghandi was thinking about the above scripture or the scripture in Matthew 23:4 where Jesus talked of the scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites for putting burdens upon others that they themselves were not willing to bear (Matthew 23:4).

Perhaps we think we are not hypocrites, but when we criticize someone for drinking too much and yet we are overweight, for example, is this not hypocrisy? Or when we get cross with drivers who don’t give way on the roundabout, yet we regularly speed (only a little bit, and we were in a hurry…) we are being hypocrites. Luke 6:37 (NLV) tells us, “Do not say what is wrong in other people’s lives. Then other people will not say what is wrong in your life. Do not say someone is guilty. Then other people will not say you are guilty. Forgive other people and other people will forgive you.”

Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for your mercy and forgiveness. Help us to follow the example set for us by your Son, Jesus Christ in not condemning others, but rather to examine ourselves first.
Amen

Study by Nancy Silcox

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About the Author:
Nancy Silcox attends the Watford Congregation of the Worldwide Church of God UK. Nancy prepares and uploads the Day by Day studies submitted by members of the Worldwide Church of God UK/Grace Communion International.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God Watford
St. Peter’s Church
61 Westfield Avenue
Watford,
Herts. WD24 7HF

Meeting Time:
Saturday 11AM

Local Congregational Contact:
George Henderson
Phone: 01923-855570
Email: george-sue.henderson@tesco.net