The Hypocrite Needs to Repent!

From the beginning of God's church, which really starts in Eden, and continues through the fathers and the Mosaic times to reach fullness in the time of Christ, hypocrites have been found existing side by side with the true people of God. They are the tares in the wheat field, the bad fish among the good, and the wolves attired in sheep's clothing. They appear to be Christians, for they come to church and speak the gentle words of religion, but their hearts are far from God. They turn others away who are shocked and dismayed to find falsity in the kingdom. Often their true nature is not known until they have done their damage.

The Puritan writer Thomas Watson had these insightful words on the subject: "Repentance is needful for hypocrites. I mean such as allow themselves in the sin. Hypocrisy is the counterfeiting of sanctity. The hypocrite or stage-player has gone a step beyond the moralist and dressed himself in the garb of religion. He pretends to a form of godliness but denies the power (2Timothy 3:5). The hypocrite is a saint in jest. He makes a magnificent show, like an ape clothed in ermine or purple. The hypocrite is like a house with a beautiful facade, but every room within is dark. He is a rotten post fairly gilded. Under his mask of profession he hides his plague-sores. The hypocrite is against painting of faces, but he paints holiness. He is seemingly good so that he may be really bad…. The hypocrite seems to have his eyes nailed to heaven, but his heart is full of impure lustings. He lives in secret sin against his conscience. He can be as his company is and act both the dove and the vulture. He hears the word, but is all ear. He is for temple devotion, where others may look upon him and admire him, but he neglects family and closet prayer. Indeed, if prayer does not make a man leave sin, sin will make him leave prayer. The hypocrite feigns humility, but it is that he may rise in the world. He is a pretender to faith, but he makes use of it rather for a cloak than a shield. He carries his Bible under his arm, but not in his heart. His whole religion is a demure lie (Hosea 11:12).

"But is there such a generation of men to be found? The Lord forgive them their holiness! Hypocrites are 'in the gall of bitterness' (Acts 8:23). O how they need to humble themselves in the dust! They are far gone with the rot, and if anything can cure them, it must be feeding upon the salt marshes of repentance.

"Let me speak my mind freely. None will find it more difficult to repent than hypocrites. They have so juggled in religion that their treacherous hearts know not how to repent. Hypocrisy is harder to cure then frenzy. The hypocrite's imposthume in his heart seldom breaks. If it be not too late, seek yet to God for mercy." Amen.