WHEN OUR ACTIONS DON’T MATCH OUR WORDS
"Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ’These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’"
Matthew 15:7-9 (NKJV)
We often hear people say one thing but their actions belie their words. In our spiritual lives such hypocrisy is particularly offensive to God.
I. IF YOU "TALK THE TALK" YOU NEED TO "WALK THE WALK"
We read in Luke 6:46 where our Lord asked a straightforward question: "Why do you call me ’Lord, Lord’ and do not the things which I say."
A person may hide their deception from their fellow man but every attempt to do so with God will inevitably fail.
II. WHY DO MEN ENGAGE IN SUCH DECEPTION?
It stems from a spiritual "heart problem". Our text makes this clear in the phrase: "but their heart is far from Me."
The Bible teaches that what is in the heart of a man determines what kind of a man he is. Consider: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7.
God commands us in Deuteronomy 6:5 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength."
And Paul reminds us: "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10.
III. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN’S DECEPTION
If our actions do not support our words that it would be far better if we choose not to speak at all. Paul stressed this point when he wrote: "For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?" I Corinthians 14:8.
The saying "What we do speaks so loud that people cannot hear what we say" might seem out-dated and trite, but the truth of it lessens not with time.
