The Generation of Hypocrisy - The Christian Online Magazine

The Christian Online Magazine -

Proverbs 30:12 - "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness."

Agur the son of Jakeh prophesied in Proverbs 30 of a generation - an age,a period of time, a class of people - who would consider themselves to be morally and ethically pure and clean, yet they would not be cleansed from their filthiness or uncleanness. This is the generation that we live in today. Many are conceited because they regularly attend church, sing in the choir, serve on the deacon board, etc. and are rich and increased with goods (Revelation 3:17). They have a very high opinion of themselves and their own character, not realizing the filthiness of their own heart. They are like the Pharisees who "outwardly appear righteous unto men", but within are "full of hypocrisy and iniquity."(Matthew 23:28)

Jesus classified this HYPOCRISY - appearing outwardly righteous yet being inwardly unclean - as leaven. He strongly admonished us in Luke 12:1, "...Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is HYPOCRISY." In other words, BE AWARE. How could we possibly PURGE OUT the "old leaven" as the Apostle Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:7 that we may remain a new lump? How can we be sure to always serve the Lord with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8)?

The Scriptures give us several principles that we may follow in order to purge out the leaven of HYPOCRISY that was so prevalent among the Pharisees and is widespread in our generation today.

#1 SEARCH ME, O GOD

The first thing that we can do to keep out all HYPOCRISY in our lives is to cry out to God as David did in Psalm 139:23 to know and search our hearts -

"SEARCH ME, O GOD. AND KNOW MY HEART: TRY ME, AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS.”

David desired that God would "SEARCH" him and "KNOW" his heart. In other words, he wanted God to examine him thoroughly and with utmost scrutiny. He wanted God to consider and discern all that was within him - to see if there was any delusion, self-deception, false hopes, improper feelings or desires. "TRY ME AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS" - He also wanted God to scrutinize, examine, and investigate what passed through his mind; what he was thinking about; what imaginations were stored in his memory bank; and what kind of affections secured his heart and will.

#2 CLEANSE ME, O GOD

Several times throughout the Scriptures David pleaded with God to cleanse him from all sin. Here are two examples -

Psalm 51:2 - "WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MINE INIQUITY, AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN."

Psalm 19:12 - "WHO CAN UNDERSTAND HIS ERRORS? CLEANSE THOU ME FROM SECRET FAULTS."

After God has searched our hearts and examined our thoughts, we need to do as David did - plead with God for a cleansing. This will definitely keep the leaven of HYPOCRISY out of our lives.

The washing that David was referring to was that done by a fuller. In a running stream, a fuller would tread or stomp the garment clean with his feet. "WASH ME THOROUGHLY" - This suggests the idea of a multiplication or increase of intense and thorough washings - whatever was needed in order to remove the stain. Multiply, increase, repeat the washings for the stain is deep - "WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MINE INIQUITY". "INIQUITY" is any perversity, depravity, moral evil, or mischief. "CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN" - That which is habitual remove entirely and make me wholly pure.

Since we do not want to give place to any HYPOCRISY, we want to especially ask the Lord to cleanse us from "SECRET FAULTS" - those which are concealed, covered, and hidden from others.

#3 CREATE IN ME, O GOD

A third step against HYPOCRISY in our lives is to ask God that our hearts may be made pure and our spirits once again be made constant, steady, and determined in the ways of the Lord.

Psalm 51:10 - "CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD: AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME."

David did not ask God to mend his heart but to fashion it anew. He also asked God to rebuild a firmly established, erect, fixed, and secure spirit within him. The same concept applied here is taken from the rebuilding or repairing of cities or buildings. He desired that his heart would be firm in following the principles of God, not swayed by the winds of temptation. He also desired that his spirit would be firm and fixed in the service of God.

#4 TEACH ME, O GOD

After God rebuilds our hearts and spirits, we need to ask Him for direction and instruction. Job's prayer that is recorded in Job 6:24 serves as a perfect example -

"TEACH ME, AND I WILL HOLD MY TONGUE: AND CAUSE ME TO UNDERSTAND WHEREIN I HAVE ERRED."

At this point, in order to counteract any HYPOCRISY in our lives, it would behoove us to ask God to instruct us, teach us, and show us wherein we have erred, gone astray, or meandered from the path of duty. As God teaches us and points out our errors it would also behoove us to learn in silence - Hold our tongue, "be more ready to hear" (Ecclesiastics 5:1)than to utter any thing hastily before God (Ecclesiastics 5:2).

#5 ORDER MY STEPS, O GOD

Lastly, in order to keep HYPOCRISY out of our lives we need God's STRENGTH and POWER. The Strength to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing. "(Colossians 1:10) and the Power to overcome all sin - "For sin shall not have dominion over you..." (Romans 6:14) Our best prayer at this point is found in Psalm 119:133 -

"ORDER MY STEPS IN THY WORD: AND LET NOT ANY INIQUITY HAVE DOMINION OVER ME."

The Psalmist asked God to adjust, set upright, direct, and set in good order his steps - his goings, conduct, and life in general. Of course, this is all done in accordance with God's Word - "IN THY WORD". He asked the Lord to firmly establish each "STEP" or act that he would be found wholly obedient to God's Will. He also prayed that no wicked passion or propensity would govern, dominate, or have the mastery over him - "LET NOT ANY INIQUITY HAVE DOMINION OVER ME."

Proverbs 30:12 - "THERE IS A GENERATION THAT ARE PURE IN THEIR OWN EYES, AND YET IS NOT WASHED FROM THEIR FILTHINESS."

We are presently facing this kind of generation. The leaven of the Pharisees, which is HYPOCRISY, is spreading rapidly, seeking to defile and corrupt ALL. How do we prevent this corruption from affecting our lives? We can pray and ask God to search our hearts and thoughts, cleanse us from ALL sin, create a new heart and spirit within us, teach us and cause us to understand wherein we have originally erred, and order our conduct aright whereby no sin can master us.

We then will be designated as the generation that is pure in the eyes of God and men because we have been washed from our filthiness. We also will then be classified as the generation that refuses to follow a double standard and walk in HYPOCRISY!