# 434 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:5-7, “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”
Hypocrite. An easy term to throw around as we look at the lives of those who profess to be Christians. It's usually thrown around when according to our opinion someone's walk doesn't match up with their talk. But we need to be careful with that definition, because it makes every believer a hypocrite at times, for who can walk perfectly before the Lord?
Isaiah defines hypocrisy as a matter of the heart and only God can see the heart, and that's why Jesus is able to call these Pharisees hypocrites. We would all do well to tend to our own heart in this matter of hypocrisy and the key to tending our heart is to keep it near to Jesus.
The heart that is near to Jesus treasures Him and His Word. The heart that is near to Jesus sees it's sin sickened condition, confesses it's sinful state and actions, and pleads for the Lord's mercy. Unless we come to this point of humility, and remain at this point, we are hypocrites and our worship of the true God is in vain.
I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word
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