jesushypocrite

INTRODUCTION
Jesus, we are taught, scorned hypocrisy. In fact, some would say that his stand against hypocrisy was one of the most significant features of his teaching ministry.
There are, to be sure, a number of biblical references which clearly indicate that Jesus viewed hypocrisy as a serious character defect, a character defect deserving of scorn and ridicule. Jesus often used the term "hypocrite" to express his contempt for those persons, particularly the Pharisees, whose hypocritical behavior he found objectionable. (A few examples are: Matthew 6:2, 6:5, 6:16, 7:4-5, 23:13-15, 23:23-29; Luke 12:1, 12:56, 13:15.)

We are also taught that Jesus was the only completely perfect person that ever lived--an absolutely unique combination of God and man. (At least a few biblical references support this viewpoint: John 1:1 with 1:14-15, 1:18, 8:28, 10:30; Hebrews 5:7-9, 7:28.)

It would be reasonable, therefore, to expect Jesus to never demonstrate, in his own behavior, even the slightest trace of anything which could possibly be construed as hypocrisy. Surprisingly, however, the Bible preserves several examples which clearly indicate that Jesus was not nearly so perfect as has been claimed and certainly did NOT always "practice what he preached!"

FAITH AND BELIEF
Jesus taught: "With God, everything is possible" (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27), and: "All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). He went on to say: "if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed (which is little or no faith at all, of course) you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6 is similar).
Yet, allegedly because of the unbelief of others, Jesus himself was sometimes unable to perform any miracles (Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:5).

Even more surprising is the apparent lapse of faith that Jesus seems to have experienced during his ordeal on the cross when he cried out: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

THE "GOLDEN RULE"
In spite of the fact that the so-called "Golden Rule" had been around in different forms for a long time before Jesus, Jesus has nevertheless come to be remembered as its originator. "So whatever you wish that people would do to you, do so to them" (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31), or "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" are probably not often thought of without also thinking of Jesus.
Jesus is also often credited with having been the originator of "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27) although this was, in fact, an Old Testament precept which he borrowed (Leviticus 19:18).

Less well remembered is his teaching: "Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27, 6:35 ). See also Matthew 5:44).

In his own behavior, however, Jesus seems to have had considerable difficulty putting these precepts into action. He showed little regard for his gentile neighbors, for example, and equated them with "dogs" Mark 7:27, once instructed his disciples to "Go nowhere among the gentiles" (Matthew 10:5), and even at first refused to heal a gentile child, finally doing so only after the child's mother came up with a clever saying (Matthew 15:21-28).

Jesus often accused the Pharisees (and others who did not share his opinions) of being "vipers" or "hypocrites" ( Matthew 12:34, 15:7, 22:18, 23:27, 23:33; Mark 7:6 as well as previously listed references). He even went so far as to call some of them "fools" after having specifically admonished others not to use this term, warning that to do so would make them liable to the "fire of hell!" (Matthew 5:22, 23:17).

ANGER
Jesus also spoke out against anger: "Anyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment" (Matthew 5:22); in fact, the context equates anger with killing. It is surprising, therefore, to find that, on several occasions, Jesus displayed his own anger.
"He looked around at them angrily" (Mark 3:5), angrily "cleansed" the temple (Matthew 21:12-15; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-47; John 2:13-17 ), and angrily "cursed" a fig tree when it failed to yield fruit OUT OF SEASON (Matthew 21:19; Mark 11:12-14), reacted with noticeable anger to the accusation of being "demon possessed," or crazy (Matthew 12:22-31; Mark 3:20-30), "cursed" the inhabitants of several cities who were not sufficiently impressed with his "mighty works" to believe what he taught (Matthew 11:22-24; Luke 10:13-15), and seldom if ever responded politely to those who differed with his teachings or objected to his behavior.

HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER
Jesus seemed fond of repeating the Old Testament commandment: "Honor your father and mother" (Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:4, 19:19; Mark 7:10, 10:19;Luke 18:20). It is apparent, however, that Jesus did not always treat his own earthly father and mother with the respect that he should have, and his eccentric behavior sometimes brought dishonor to them!
There are no biblical references whatever to indicate that Jesus ever spoke to his father, Joseph. There are only a few instances given where Jesus spoke to his mother, Mary, and in each case Jesus was curt, if not actually rude. He once reprimanded his mother for even seeking him at all (after he had, at the age of twelve, been missing for several days), and twice addressed her only as "woman!"

"How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father's house?" was his retort when his parents came looking for him (Luke 2:49). At the wedding in Cana, when his mother mentioned to him that the wine was running low, Jesus replied: "Woman, what have you to do with me?" (John 2:4). Similarly, at his crucifixion Jesus said to his mother: "Woman, behold your Son" as he entrusted her to his disciple (John 19:26). If there was ever a time that Jesus spoke respectfully to his mother or father, we have not been told about it.

There are several biblical references to the contempt and ridicule which were heaped upon Jesus both by the populace and by the religious leaders of his day. On at least one occasion, even his own family tried to restrain him when he appeared to be acting rather strangely (and as a consequence, had attracted quite a bit of attention): "And when his family heard about it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, 'He is beside himself [crazy]. He is possessed by Beelzebul'" (Mark 3:21).

His disgraceful death on a Roman cross could only have brought dishonor to his mother and father "...for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree'" (Galatians 3:13). (See the "Living Bible" version of Galatians 3:13 and Deuteronomy 21:22-23 for the full significance of death upon the cross.)

HONESTY
Jesus taught: "Let what you say be simply 'yes' or 'no"' ( Matthew 5:37 ) thereby implying the principle of honesty. He often prefaced his statements with "Truly, truly, I say to you" as if to emphasize his own commitment to honesty. On some occasions, he went even further saying such things as: "My testimony is true" (John 8:14), "I am the truth" (John 14:6), and "I was born... to bear witness to the truth" (John 18:37). He equated lying with evil (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:22) and called the Devil "the father of lies" (John 8:44).
Yet, in spite of his self-proclaimed honesty, JESUS DID NOT ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH!

Once, when his brothers urged him to accompany them to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Tabernacles, Jesus told them that he would NOT be going, but then he later went secretly to Jerusalem by himself ( John 7:2-10 ). (Note: the words "not yet" which appear in some versions at John 7:8 are an editorial "emendation" to the original text in an apparent effort to rectify the obvious inconsistency between what Jesus said he would do and what he actually did do.)

During his hearing before the high priest, Jesus said: "I have spoken openly to the world; I have ALWAYS taught in the synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I NEVER spoke secretly" (John 18:20) This is in direct contradiction, however, to what we find elsewhere. Not only did Jesus teach in places other than synagogues and the temple, but HE HIMSELF SPECIFICALLY INDICATED THAT HIS TEACHINGS WERE NOT ALWAYS OPEN, BUT WERE SOMETIMES INTENDED TO BE SECRET!

He taught on the "mount" (Matthew 5:1-7), by the sea (Matthew 13:1), on the plain (Luke 6:17-49), and in other places. To his disciples he said: "To you has been given the SECRET of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; so THAT THEY MAY INDEED SEE BUT NOT PERCEIVE, AND INDEED HEAR BUT NOT UNDERSTAND: LEST THEY SHOULD TURN ABOUT AND BE FORGIVEN" (Mark 4:11-12).

CONCLUSION
If the Bible is taken to be an accurate account of what Jesus said and did, then it is apparent that Jesus taught few precepts that he himself did not violate!
According to the Bible, JESUS WAS A HYPOCRITE and not really perfect after all!

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