Religious Hypocrisy

They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” — John 8:19

There is this constant tension in the Gospel of John. It's between Jesus and Jewish authorities. And the problem is that the religious authorities are thinking and speaking on one level, while Jesus is thinking and speaking on another. And because the religious leaders had made up their minds, they would never honestly assess who Jesus was and what he was trying to tell them.

But why is this? Why are they not open to at least hearing from Jesus?

And the answer to this is found back a couple of chapters. In John 5:37-38, Jesus told us why. He said:

And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. — John 5:37-38

That's the sad part of this situation. These religious officials are reading and legislating the scripture but do not have the scriptures abiding in them. They steward the Scripture, but they don't follow the Scriptures.

And this describes so many followers today.

We read it but don't reside in it. We hear it but don't heed it. We listen to it but don't live by it. We read it, hear it, and listen to it just enough to justify our positions, use these positions against others, and therefore put on a good show. But under it all, we are a hoax and a hypocrite because the Word does not live within us where it was intended to live. Hebrews 4:12 states:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. — Hebrews 4:12

The words of Jesus at this moment should have convicted these religious leaders. “You know neither me nor my Father." But they didn't. And they read, heard, and listened to the Scripture, but it no longer pierced their stubborn and calloused hearts.

Pray that your heart, thoughts, and intentions will forever be sensitive to the razor-sharp truth in God's Word.

ASK THIS: Is your heart sensitive to the truth?

DO THIS: Bring any callousness to God and let his Word give you direction.

PRAY THIS: God, I believe your Word. I will let it direct every action in all parts of my life.

PLAY THIS: Hunger.