Do not be like the hypocrites!

God loves people that are genuine. He knows who they are and what they look like. He can tell the difference between someone who is putting on a good show, and those who are seriously following Him. He knows what genuine prayer is like, genuine kindness and genuine devotion. Those who truly love God are genuine and they do not pay much attention about what others think of them, for they have understood that what God sees in them is much more important. They are God-pleasers not people pleasers because they genuinely do their best to put God first. Some people are not like this and even use faith based activities like prayer or fasting to try to impress others rather than focusing on God. Here is what Jesus has to say about that;

Matthew 6:16–24 (ESV): 

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

How you appear to God is far more important than how man sees you. Do not put on appearances for people, but spend more time preparing your mind and heart to meet with God. Then you will avoid being a hypocrite. It is easy to become one, saying and doing things that are good principles but not following them through in your own life. It is like someone telling others not to smoke because it is bad for you, and doing it themselves. Here Jesus calls people hypocrites who go without food (fast) but are making a show of it by ensuring that they look hungry and miserable. It seems that they even forgo washing as well just to make sure people know that they are without food (v17). This is not what God desires from fasting. For those giving up food in this way are not putting God first or being genuine in their faith. 

Fasting is giving up food for a period of time to show reliance on God, get closer to Him, spend usual eating times thinking about Him, praying, and reading Scripture. It is a chance to show how much you depend on God for your survival and comfort depend on Him when you fast. You will feel physical hunger, but denying that in order to set aside comfort to focus on God is a good thing. It shows humility before God and reliance on Him to fulfill your every need. This is genuine faith. Fasting is an opportunity to focus on God, spend time with Him, listen and speak to Him and show loyalty and love to Him. You know and God know if this is your attitude when you fast. Fasting is about putting God first, above even your physical needs to remember who really is the most important One.

As a follower of God, you should have times of fasting in your life. Jesus expects you to. So, when you do, do not make a fuss, do not tell everyone about it, just get on with it and honour God in it. Get on with your life as usual, wash, dress yourself as normal and make an effort during the fast to be kind and loving to others, not allowing hunger to impact your emotions or responses. There is no point trying to do something for God if you are going to do it in a manner that dishonours Him, so you need to be mindful of your reactions during fasting times and continue to honour God by loving the people around you, otherwise you can fall into the hypocrite category.

Although Jesus says that ‘your fasting may not be seen by others’ it does not mean that you should not fast as a church about a matter, or as a group praying about an issue. For as you do others will be aware that you are taking part. This is not the situation that Jesus is talking about in this passage. Jesus is talking about when you personally decide to fast, do not boast about it, but be genuine. Jesus is clear that when you fast, God does not want you to make a fuss about it. Just get on with life and the people around you, you should be able to fast and be yourself. The ‘hypocrites’ go about their daily lives doing it wearing expressions of misery and moaning about how hungry they are, they maybe even fast washing so that everyone they meet can ask what was wrong, and they may excuse their being snappy or angry with hunger. This is not behaviour that God approves, and He calls it hypocrisy, Do not be like that. 

Fasting is hard. You deny yourself food for a set time to honour God. This includes what you put in your mouth and what comes out of it. Your behaviour and interactions with others matter just as much as your dedication to fasting. Just because you are hungry it does not mean it is ok to be rude or unkind, you will have to manage your attitude. It is difficult, but not impossibile as you have a great God that you can rely on for the strength you do not have. To truly fast, you put God first, no-one or nothing else. It is an act of humility, love and dedication to Him, so when you next choose to fast check your attitude and desires before you begin for it is not easy, and you want to ensure that you will honour God in it. 

Dealing with hypocrisy

 Psalm 41:1–13 (ESV):  

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! 

In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; 

2  the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; 

he is called blessed in the land; 

you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. 

3  The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; 

in his illness you restore him to full health. 

4  As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; 

heal me, for I have sinned against you!” 

5  My enemies say of me in malice, 

“When will he die, and his name perish?” 

6  And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, 

while his heart gathers iniquity; 

when he goes out, he tells it abroad. 

7  All who hate me whisper together about me; 

they imagine the worst for me. 

8  They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; 

he will not rise again from where he lies.” 

9  Even my close friend in whom I trusted, 

who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 

10  But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, 

and raise me up, that I may repay them! 

11  By this I know that you delight in me: 

my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. 

12  But you have upheld me because of my integrity, 

and set me in your presence forever. 

13  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, 

from everlasting to everlasting! 

Amen and Amen. 

In these verses we see how David starts generically talking about how God blesses, ‘the one who considers the poor’. He then applies this to his life and realises that considering those that have less or are weaker than yourself somehow leads to God’s blessing. Showing mercy, being courteous, kind and demonstrating compassion to those who need it means that in some way you earn God’s favour. If you do it with the right motives of course, as God sees the heart and intention of your actions. 

David then considers how this relates to his present position. He recognises that although he is very ill, yet, ‘The Lord sustains him’. Not only that, but he is aware that God is also; restoring him, has given him favour throughout his country, has not given up on him or given him over to his enemies. David acknowledges that despite the current pain and suffering, he is still blessed! God is still showing favour to him and David puts this down to the fact that he has shown kindness and compassion to those who are poor and needy, and has done his best to be a man of integrity living his life following God. David considers himself blessed even at this time when he is significantly ill and repentant. He is waiting for, yet assured of, the fact that God will restore him both physically and spiritually, because although he knows he is not perfect, he has lived his life doing his best to honour God and consider others. 

This season was not easy for David. Although he was assured of God’s blessing and mercy, he still had to endure the discomfort physically, spiritually and emotionally. It still hurt, he still suffered. David tells us that there are people that are visiting him that are awaiting his death and spreading news of his demise. Those that should have shown concern for his current illness are actually gathering to see if it will finish him off and then spreading rumours of his decline. Yet David knew that he was being healed and restored. Therefore there must have been signs of improvement but these people chose not to see it and certainly did not want it. These people, even close friends, went to see him pretending to have concern and compassion, but instead of trying to help or hope for his recovery they spread false rumours that, ‘he will not rise again’. These people weren’t just any visitors either for they have intimate access to the king. So they must have been trusted advisers, friends, courtiers, influential people in David’s realm. Not everyone would have access to the chambers of the king especially when he was weak, only significant people in the king's life would have the permission to see him. Yet these people abused their privilege and showed their real character through this time of David’s suffering. They revealed that they are not friends or trusted counsellors but enemies instead of caring for David and showing concern for his decline they revelled in it. What a heartbreaking situation to find yourself in. When those you care about, trust, love and have built life with, root for your destruction. Not only was David dealing with repentance, blessing and illness, he also had to deal with the emotional upheaval of changing relationships. They thought he would be able to do nothing about their altered attitudes as they waited expectantly for his death. Yet he knew their thoughts and actions and was given confidence that, ‘my enemy will not shout in triumph over me’. God must have shown David that his recovery was coming as he knew he was not as unwell as others desired. He was certain that God was upholding him because of his integrity, due to his behaviour towards God and others so he was assured that this season would result in full health and restoration and the blessing of God.

Times of trouble can reveal who is really for you and who is not. David began to recognise that some people were hypocritical and had transformed themselves from close counsellors into enemies. Yet he did not do anything about it whilst he was unwell. He waited. He did not throw them out or prevent them from coming to see him. Maybe he was waiting to gather further evidence to see if his concerns were validated. He did not react out of fear or anger, but knew that God would deal with them and that he would have an opportunity to, ‘repay them’. He had a God-given assurance that in good time, all would be made right. Even though experiencing hypocrisy is infuriating, it does not always need calling out and confronting straight away. Allow yourself time to consider the circumstances, the person and talk to God about it like David did. It will be frustrating, feel powerless and painful, but God will show you how to deal with such people. Their comeuppance is coming, you need to ensure that you continue to live with integrity and maintain your own good conduct and character. David was determined to do this - to maintain his right standing before God, to not respond until he was fully recovered and to allow God to influence how to deal with these deceitful people. So if you find yourself having to deal with a similar situation, do not rush to react or let your emotions get out of hand. Instead trust that God will reveal truth and restore you. He will not allow the enemies of His dedicated followers prevail. He didn’t allow that for David, and He won’t allow that for you. So, keep; praying, waiting and trusting that God sees and knows all. He will sustain and restore you too. So, when you suffer, when you have times of trial, when people disappoint and come against you - keep mindful about what God is doing, who He is and what you can expect of Him. Consider your relationship with Him and your behaviour towards others. David was confident that he would be restored and his name and integrity upheld. God will do the same for you as you continue to walk with Him, lead a life of integrity and care for the poor. Ensure that you live a life that allows you with full confidence to say along with David that God has, 'upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.