Perennial problem

‘You hypocrites! How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you!
    “These people, says God, honour me with their words,
    but their heart is really far away from me.
    It is no use for them to worship me,
    because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!”‘
(verses 7-9)

Read Matthew 15:1-20

Isaiah who lived about 700 years before Jesus was born, spoke out against a pressing problem of his time. He was concerned about hypocrisy. The Israelites, a nation chosen by God were twisting religion to suit their own purposes. Sure, they kept all the religious observances, but it was all an act. Their hearts were not in it. When it suited them they also manipulated God’s teachings to suit their own purposes.

Their descendants were still doing it in Jesus’ day. The religious leaders were playing similar games. They strutted about in their robes, making a public show of their religiosity, while their hearts glowed with pride and their minds were hatching plots to defraud widows and make life more comfortable for themselves.

Are our times any different? Do people make a show of virtue while cheating others? Do they justify selfish acts, pretending it’s what God wants? Do you? Do I?

No wonder Jesus had to die for us all.

Dear God, forgive my hypocrisy, which is so much second nature to me. Teach me to be sincere and truthful in all I do. Amen.

by Richard Hauser, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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