Articles
“Let Love Be Without Hypocrisy"
“Let Love Be Without Hypocrisy"
By Paul R. Blake
Love gives meaning to good works. When listed with faith and hope, love is the greatest, for without love a man is nothing (1Cor. 13:1-3, 13). Yet, not all professions of love are genuine; not all works of righteousness performed are based on love from a pure heart. Expressions of love have no value without corresponding works. Good works are unprofitable when performed without true love. Pretended love benefits no one and does more harm than abject indifference.
What spiritual good is conferred when one calls another "dear brother" and then slanders him when given opportunity? In this case, what is needed is less profession of love and more practice. History is replete with examples of this kind of treachery.
Joab and Abner (A friendly conversation as an opportunity for murder)
During honorable battle, Abner killed Asahel, the brother of King David's officer Joab. Joab was filled with bitterness and pursued Abner to avenge his brother's death. In time, David made peace with Abner and sent him among the Israelites to inform them that all rebellion against David must cease. When Joab heard of this, he rebuked King David, telling him that Abner deceived the king and that his overtures of peace were only a cover for spying. Afterward, Joab secretly set out in pursuit of Abner and tricked him into coming back for further conference. Upon returning to Hebron, he took Abner aside near the gate, apparently in a friendly manner, to converse with him out of earshot of passersby. Having thus played the hypocrite with Abner, Joab pulled his sword and stabbed him to death (2Sam. 2:19 - 3:27). Joab's hypocrisy enabled him to kill.
Because Joab was a pretender, he was convinced that Abner had ulterior motives as well. He could not believe that another could be genuinely interested pursuing peace. His cynical view stemmed from his own dishonest actions; he believed everyone else pretended love, too. As the old saying states: "a guilty conscience is often suspicious of others." Joab's hypocrisy hurt himself.
Also, Joab's pretended love for the king was thinly veiled. It quickly fell into tatters when opportunity arose to harm his enemy. Joab scolded the king for not thinking ill of Abner, and he misused the king's authority to get Abner to return. One who loves without hypocrisy does not treat his monarch in such a fashion. Joab's hypocrisy hurt the one he professed to love.
Judas Iscariot and Jesus Christ (A token of love as an act of betrayal)
Perhaps the most egregious example of pretended love was exhibited by Judas in his betrayal of Jesus with a kiss. Judas mouthed words of interest in the welfare of others, but his expressions of concern did not mask the greed that filled his heart (John 12:4-6). He sought out and conspired with the chief priests and scribes, taking the initiative to commit treachery by delivering the Savior into their custody. Judas knew his behavior was sinful, and he "sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude" (Luke 22:6). This reveals a number of characteristics of false love. First, it loathes the object of its pretended affections and seeks to do away with it. Judas had to get rid of Jesus; for, the longer the Lord was around, the harder it was for Judas to keep up the charade and the greater his resentment would grow.
Second, false love fears exposure; the one who has feigned love works hard to keep his true feelings hidden. Judas worked out a plan whereby he could give over the Lord without the crowd knowing that he was a cowardly, traitorous ally.
Third, false love imitates true love. Judas used the hallmark of intimacy between dear friends to sever ties with the One who could have become his best friend. His caricature of true love became even more grotesque in view of the great love Christ demonstrated in return by not exposing Judas to the crowd as a traitor. Instead, the Lord asked, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" (Matt. 26:50).
Lastly, false love is bold and callous. Judas walked right up to Jesus and, while committing the act of betrayal said directly to the Lord, "Hail, Master!" (Matt. 26:49). After denying Jesus, Peter was broken-hearted when the Lord looked at him; but, Judas looked into Jesus face with false love and betrayed him without flinching.
Unfeigned Love and Hypocritical Love (No basis for comparison)
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1Peter 1:22). Obeying the gospel is a transforming experience. One who has been a partaker of the love of God manifested in Jesus Christ is changed into a child of God and loves his brethren. He knows that not only does God love him, but God also loves all of His children. As a child of his Father, he imbibes the character of God and loves all Christians. He loves from a pure heart, for the Christian knows that pretended love cannot be maintained consistently and indefinitely. Eventually and inevitably, his play-acting will be exposed, if not in this life, then in the Judgment.
The purified, obedient soul knows that it should be in his nature to love his brethren, and he labors to cultivate that characteristic by purifying his feelings toward his brethren, refining them until his heart is purged of all worldly and unworthy motives. He is aware that one who practices hypocritical love is self-deluded. No one is fooled by the pretense except the one practicing the deception. Jesus said that our love for one another becomes evidence that we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). One who puts on a phony show of affection weakens confidence and trust between himself and his brethren.
The purified, obedient soul knows that pretended love, even if well-intentioned, can do harm. It is not hard to spot the false love of a religious leader who oozes up to a seeker of truth, gives him a mushy handshake, and spouts syrupy, rehearsed cant about how much he loves the visitor. At this point, the newcomer is either enamored by the show and revels in it or is put off by the pretense and leaves. In both cases, he does not receive the truth and love he really needs.
Solomon said that God considers seven things to be abominable. Two of the seven have to do with dishonesty (Prov. 6:16-19). How great an abomination is it when one takes something as beautiful as love and combines it with a lie? Pure love is the greatest; hypocritical love is the worst. Brethren, let us love each other without hypocrisy, and our treatment of one another will always be scriptural, pleasing to our Father. Ethical, moral, pure, and holy love is repelled by evil and attracted to good.
A Moments Wisdom
--All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
--It is a sad religion that is never strong until its owner gets sick.
--What do we really live for if not to make life less difficult for others?
--A friend is one who can put his finger on our faults without rubbing it in.
Upcoming Sermons
6/29/25 AM - Majoring on Minors; PM - Guest Speaker: Doug Sanders - The Sermon on the Plain
7/6/25 AM - Saving a Soul from Death; PM - Worship in Song: Congregational Choice of Songs
7/13/25 AM - Letters from Babylon; PM - Jesus Christ: Known to History throughout History
7/20/25 AM - “God has Repaid Me”; PM - Phoebe, Servant of the Church at Cenchrea
7/27/25 AM - The Day after Baptism; PM - Prove It!
8/3/25 AM - Some People the Church Cannot Do Without; PM - Themed Worship in Song: God’s Love (Compiled by Pat Puckett)