INTRODUCTION

Hypocrites desperately desire the praise of men, yet they are unwilling to put forth the right efforts to obtain any legitimate praise. Instead, they choose to elevate themselves by demeaning others. The actions of the Pharisee found in Luke 18:11-13 [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
See All... best illustrate this truth. While the Pharisee was hypocritically thanking the Lord that he was not wicked like the publican, the publican was busy confessing to God how wicked he was. In order to exalt himself, the Pharisee determined to belittle his neighbour thinking that this comparison made him look better. This practice of exalting oneself while demeaning others is as old as man himself. People today choose to inflate their own pride or position by undermining others.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Mary poured some expensive ointment upon the Lord to anoint His body for burial. Judas complained that the ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor. In reality, Judas revealed his hypocrisy because he cared nothing for the poor; he was simply a thief (John 12:1-8 [1] Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. [2] There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. [3] Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. [4] Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, [5] Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? [6] This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. [7] Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. [8] For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Have you ever sought to destroy others so that you could be exalted in the mind of God or man? Did your unsavoury behaviour prick your conscience? Why or why not?
• Did the Pharisee gain any favour with God by attempting to destroying the publican? How did the publican gain favour with God and go away justified?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help you edify others with your mouth.
• Ask God to show you your own hypocrisy.

HYMN

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

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