PRETENSE
46 “BEWARE OF THE SCRIBES, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,
47 who devour widows’ houses, AND FOR A PRETENSE MAKE LONG PRAYERS. THESE WILL RECEIVE GREATER CONDEMNATION.”
Luke 20:46,47 (NKJV)
Pretense is not condoned or welcomed by God. Whoever claimed to be of God should be above board—honest and truthful—in his or her dealings or doings.
Do not be one thing and present yourself as another thing. Whoever or whatever you are, let people know your true colour; you cannot be black, and at the same time be referred to as white—you should be one out of the two. If you are black, let people know you are black, and if you are white, let them know as well.
Hypocrisy was one of the dirty things found in the lives of the pharisees in Jesus' Days. They were trying to present themselves as good people, painted the pictures of what they are not, in the people's minds.
They wanted people to see them as very religious or righteous people, but inwardly or privately they were not living by the standard of the law which they tell others to practice:
27 “WOE TO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YOU ARE LIKE WHITEWASHED TOMBS WHICH INDEED APPEAR BEAUTIFUL OUTWARDLY, BUT INSIDE ARE FULL OF DEAD MEN'S BONES AND ALL UNCLEANNESS. 28 EVEN SO YOU ALSO OUTWARDLY APPEAR RIGHTEOUS TO
MEN, BUT INSIDE YOU ARE FULL OF HYPOCRISY AND LAWLESSNESS" (Matthew 23:27,28 NKJV).
READ: Matthew 23:1-31; Luke 11:42-44,46,47,52
If a believer or a minister is not living the Word, practicing the Word, or not a doer of the Word (James 1:22-25); such should not attempt to lead others, or teach others, to do what they are not
doing. Whatever principle found in the Bible that you are not practicing or doing, you should not tell others to do it. In other words, the word of God which you do not practice, do not tell others to do it; If you did, you are being hypocritical. Hypocrisy is wrong. It is a sin.
Those who are at the leadership would receive stricter Judgement. If you are given the opportunity or privilege to lead or teach other people, no matter the level, you should discipline yourself to do whatever you are telling or teaching them to do:
"MY BRETHREN, LET NOT MANY OF YOU BECOME TEACHERS, KNOWING THAT WE SHALL RECEIVE A STRICTER JUDGEMENT" (James 3:1 NKJV).
Note: As you read this piece, if there are shortcomings found in your life, take a step to right the wrongs now: 31 FOR IF WE WOULD JUDGE OURSELVES, WE WOULD NOT BE JUDGED. 32 BUT WHEN WE ARE JUDGED, WE ARE CHASTENED BY THE LORD, THAT WE MAY NOT BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD" (1 Corinthians 11:31 NKJV).
Peace.