Proverbs 7:6-23, Hypocrisy – The Varnish of Religion!
March 20, Proverbs 7:6-23
Matt. 23:1-33 “Satan has filled thine heart to lie” (Acts 5:13).
Hypocrisy – The Varnish of Religion!
- Deceptive Hypocrisy Expressed: What does this temptress mean by her peace offerings and her vows (v.14)? Several interpretations are suggested. a. One is that she has fresh meat left over from a sacrifice that she will share in a banquet with this young man. Perowne reminds us that “the flesh of peace offerings for thanksgiving was to be eaten on the day on which it was offered; but if it were a vow, or a free-well offering, what remained might be eaten on the morrow (Lev. 7:15-16). She represents him as having happily lighted on her feast-day, when she was looking out and longing for his company.” Certainly, this would be a most unusual way to invite someone to a love-orgy! Further, it does not seem natural that a ‘foreign’ (strange) woman would keep Jewish religious customs. b. Another interpretation is that this woman is ceremonially clean, and thus the young man will not become defiled by consorting with her (Jn. 18:28)! This explanation also has the weakness that a ‘high view of the ceremonial law does not quite fit the picture of this gross immorality. c. On the other hand, the abuse of sacred Festivals for sinful purposes was all too common, even in Israel (Isa. 1:11-15; Amos 5:21-23). “She dare not play the harlot with man till she has played the hypocrite with God, and stopped the mouth of her conscience with her peace-offerings” (Gurnal). Whatever she means by these expressions, her peace-offerings were polluted into deadly sin-offerings!
- Destructive Hypocrisy Exposed: We noted in the ominous darkness pictured above that the Prince of Darkness was lurking in the shadows. In this we see a. Satan’s Methods to fulfill his treacherous design. Forget the myth of “hoofs and horns”; he would not thus expose himself. He prefers the deception of hypocrisy and comes as an angel of light (v.14) to do his devilish work. b. Satan’s Mask conceals his Machinations to control and destroy his victims. From behind that mask he smiles and simpers, “Just this once.” or “Everybody’s doing it.” or “You can get away with it; you’re so smart.” c. Satan’s Ministers are everywhere, ready to do his bidding. They corrupt the Word of God (Pr. 2:17), and they preach a counterfeit gospel (Pr. 11:4). Only the Lord Jesus could and did expose the hypocrisy of His day. Read and pray as you hear His scathing, repeated denunciations, Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites (Mt. 23)! How different Jesus was in His treatment of His hearers. He did everything up-front, on the level. There was not a deceptive bone in his body. To the hesitant He said, If it were not so I would have told you. There was no mask, no make-believe with Him, only the demand for sincerity. His was no pretended love, but a love He proved at Calvary. His was no feigned suffering, for on that Cross He suffered and bled and died, but praise God, He rose again, even as He promised! He hated hypocrisy as only He could. Satan promises freedom but delivers slavery, Jesus asks obedience and delivers freedom!
Thought: “The hypocrite has much angel without, more devil within” (Ths. Adams).
Prayer: Lord, keep before me the value of my life, my soul.