Editors note: This devotional is taken from the archives of Gospel of Mark, chapter 6.

“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.^” (Mark 7:1-4, NIV)

“So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" (Mark 7:5, NIV)

“He replied, 'Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." (Mark 7:6-8, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself who are the characters involved.

1. Pharisees & Teachers of the law

2. Disciples

3. Jesus

I asked myself the role of the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

1. They came from Jerusalem and gathered around Jesus.

2. They saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed.

3. They asked Jesus, ”Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?”

I asked myself the role of the disciples.

They were eating food with “unclean” hands according to the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

I asked myself the role of Jesus.

Jesus responds to the ‘Pharisees & teachers of the law’ with 7 rebuking statements against them:

1. Jesus tells them the prophet Isaiah was right when he prophesized about them.

2. Jesus says to them, ‘You hypocrites.’

3. Jesus reminds them prophesy that states, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’

4. Jesus reminds them prophesy that states, “They worship me in vain.”

5. Jesus reminds them prophesy that states, “Their teachings are but rules taught by men.”

6. Jesus says to them, “You have let go of the commands of God.”

7. Jesus says to them, “You are holding on to the traditions of men.”

I decided to look today at the first two of Jesus' 7 rebuking statements. 

Interpretations:

I asked myself the significance of Jesus reminding the Pharisees and teachers of the law of Isaiah’s words.

It is very significant because the Pharisees and teachers of the law would have been well versed in the Scriptures. So, they would have known the words of Isaiah the prophet. Now Jesus is telling them a particular prophesy actually applies to them. Jesus does not stop there but goes a step further which is evident by the second rebuking statement.

I asked myself the significance of Jesus calling them ‘You hypocrites.”

It is very significant because Jesus who is an ultimate Teacher of the law and well versed in Scriptures calls the teachers gathered around him who would have known the law hypocrites for the sole reason that they are not practicing what they should be preaching. If they had taken prophesy of Isaiah seriously than they would have known that ‘Obedience is better than sacrifice’. They were taking time to wash their hands for the sake of tradition than to be obedient to God and follow His laws. In this way, they have been acting hypocritical because they do one thing thinking they are doing it to please God but in essence are displeasing him. So, they have no right to be asking about the disciples actions without first correcting their own actions. It is also a strong rebuke to make them all see that they cannot be demanding laws be obeyed if they themselves are not doing what God wants them to do.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life. I learned how serious Jesus takes hypocrisy and addresses it right away. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were concerned about the disciples’ actions but Jesus was concerned about their actions. I can be so concerned about other peoples’ actions and bring them before the Lord but the Lord is going to examine me first so He will bring my own actions to light especially if what I bring before the Lord about someone else is something I am guilty of too. Jesus takes hypocrisy so seriously that Jesus included it in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus wanted people to take the log from their own eye before they can tell others about the speck in their own eyes.

I cannot be saying I am a Christian and living my life apart from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I cannot ask the Lord and expect the Lord to correct someone else unless I am guiltless in that situation, etc.  The Lord could correct that person anyway but not because I asked. I need to correct myself before the Lord before I can bring other people’s mistakes and ask the Lord ‘why’. This applies to human relations too. I have no right telling someone to correct their actions if I am doing the same thing. I need to take the log out of my own eye before telling someone of the speck in their own eye.

Isn't it interesting that the one who wants to correct others, their sin is referred to as a log compared to the one they want to correct which is referred to as a speck. Both are wrong but I believe Jesus is emphasizing the importance of us examining ourselves and being right before Him and others before we try to correct others.

This is a sobering and humbling point to know ourselves and be examined in the Light of His glory before jumping to judge others. I have been guilty of hypocrisy in my life but thank my Lord and personal Savior for bringing it to my attention to correct me and lead me on the right path. He wants to do that for you too friend.

I ask you now dear friend, how do you view hypocrisy?

Dear friend, we know how Jesus viewed hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is something we should never be associated with. Hypocrisy is what damages relationships whether they are individual or community oriented. Hypocrisy is what has caused most damage to those who profess to be Christians. It is sad friend, when we hear the reasons of people who do not want to step into a church because their response is, “people in church are so hypocritical for they act one way in church but totally another way outside of church. I do not want to have anything to do with these church people’.  You can see friend why someone would not want to step into a church then where there are Christians because they do not see them as Christians instead hypocrites.

People generalize easily and one person's experience in a particular situation carries over to other situations and they make the same assumption. For there assumptions to change, we have to be the one to show them the difference.

Won't you do that friend?

It will not happen if you and I are not different. We are our own hypocrites. At one time or another we have been hypocritical and may have done damage to others too. God in His grace is merciful and teaches us from His Word not to be hypocritical so we can be helpful to others and not hurtful. Churches and Christians can be a place of refuge for non-Christians so they can come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Personal Savior only if Churches and followers of Christ take seriously to purge hypocrisy from their midst. On our own we will not be able to but the Good News friend is that Jesus wants to help us. Yes, He does friend! He will give us strength to do what is right as we depend and lean on Him. Whatever Jesus commands is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus does not want us to be hypocritical and will provide a way out.  Yes, He will friend! We can be beacons of light shining in a dark world when we get rid of hypocrisy in our own lives and let it be covered by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ and let His Light shine through us.

May we get rid of all hypocrisy in our own lives and be used by the Lord! Amen!

“Hypocrisy? Yeshua Prohibits Openly, Commands Right Instructions, Searching You!”(H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.S.Y)/”How do you view hypocrisy?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I love you so much. Thank you for loving me so much more than words can describe. Thank you for dying for my sin and bringing to my own mind the times I have been hypocritical. Forgive me Oh Lord and help me. You Oh Lord know our sins and we are so sorry for them. Please forgive us when our actions hurt others but most of all it has hurt you. As the church and followers of you, we do not want people to turn away because they see us as hypocrites. Help us Oh Lord to be guided and led by you. Thank you so much Jesus. Your Word is so applicable to us even now in the 21^st century. Thank you so much for hearing us and answering us. I pray right now for the one who has been deeply hurt by anyone they saw as a follower of Christ and have turned away because they saw them as hypocrites. Now Oh Lord, they need your help so you can bring the right people into their own lives to see your love for them through those you bring. Please Jesus for with you all things are possible. Thank you so much Jesus. We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior! Please be our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayer and answered us. We entrust ourselves into your care and all our loved ones to you. Please give us the wisdom to do your will for your Name’s sake. Thank you so much Jesus. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

PRAYER:
Father God thank you, you love us so much that you sent your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I love you Lord. Thank you Father God for your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus, you will take care of my problems. Nothing is too hard for you. For many of us Lord, we face many obstacles in life whether it be Spiritual, financial, marital, emotional, physical, or educational problems. We turn these problems and the prayer requests to you. Thank you Lord you never fail to answer our prayers. Just because we don't understand does not mean you didn't answer our prayers. Thanks Lord for cleansing us by your precious Blood. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please forgive my sins. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart. Thank you Jesus for making my heart, your home. Thank you Jesus for living in me. I will live for you Jesus and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I pray right now for the one who is so troubled that only your presence and love can meet them where they are at. Come Lord Jesus and please intervene in their life. Cover them with your awesome presence and help them through what they are going. Thank you Jesus as you saw the disciples in trouble and came to their rescue, you can come to our rescue too. We entrust our lives in your care. Thank you for the answer and you will carry us! IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY JESUS THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN.

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this  Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful too because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

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