By Nancy Virden (c)2025

Hypocrites have always existed. In every sphere of life, one can spot those who say one thing and do another.

In Jesus’ days on earth, he was surrounded by a religious class steeped in hypocrisy. Heavy-handed leaders had been corrupted by absolute power and would act in ways that harmed and confused their followers. Greed also controlled their hearts.

Standing in the Temple where people worshiped God, Jesus observed some religious leaders making a big show of how much money they were donating. They appeared generous, leaving large sums in the offering plates. These gifts were but a small portion of their wealth.

Eventually, a poor widow shuffled by and dropped two copper coins, the smallest Greek coins, worth 1/64th of a day’s wages into the coffer. Each day, the Temple authorities gave this amount to the poor, so they could buy bread. This poor widow was giving her bread allowance back to God.

Jesus challenged his listeners by asking, “Who gave more? This widow or the religious leaders?”

1. To avoid being a hypocrite, judge only your choices. Generally speaking, how others act is none of your business.
2. Listen to what you accuse others of doing and sincerely consider whether you do the same things. Perhaps you do not follow the exact behaviors of those you judge; think deeper. If someone is stingy with $2000, are you stingy with $20? When people do not reach out to you, do you fail to reach out? If someone contradicts you, do you quarrel?
3. Be honest. Paul wrote in Romans 2:1-2 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
4. Do the next right thing. (Do the opposite of what you claim to hate). Have in your mind what kind of person you want to be and set out to become that person.

Jesus correctly summed up the situation in the temple when he said the widow gave more because she gave everything she had. She held nothing back. No doubt the religious leaders had convinced themselves they were the true worshipers and so they bragged. Check your heart. Do you claim to love God yet adore something or someone else more? Do you call yourself a victim and victimize others? Has something been taken from you and you take things from others?

Greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, revenge, gossip, backstabbing, insolence, pride, bragging, and disobeying one’s parents are some of the wrongdoings Paul listed. Refusing to understand is chosen ignorance and is no excuse. Promise-breaking, heartlessness, and having no mercy are equally against God’s ways. Practicing hypocrisy is a sure way to keep you double-minded and trapped.

God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, so he sent his Son Jesus to take our punishment for us. When Jesus rose from the dead he offered us a chance to live forever. We will not be perfect, nonetheless, we can be better with Jesus’ help.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

1 John 1:10

If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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