Fake Family
READ: Matthew 15:1-9
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, . . . but their heart is far from Me. —Matthew 15:8
A builder in California has come up with an innovative idea to sell his houses. He thinks that a good way to make a house more appealing is to have a family there when showing the house. So he hires actors to play happy families in his company’s model homes. Would-be buyers can ask them questions about the house. Each fake family cooks, watches television, and plays games while house-hunters wander through.
That type of faking may not do any harm, but think about the sham of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day (Matt. 15:1-9). They pretended to love God and piously made up a long list of rules that they and others were to obey. But this was only to make themselves look good. They even considered their rules just as important as the Law that came directly from the Lord (vv.5-6). Jesus called them “hypocrites” (v.7). He said their words sounded as if they honored God, but their hearts told another story—they were far from Him (v.8).
That kind of pretending goes on in people today as well. We look like good Christians on the outside because we go to church faithfully, follow some rules legalistically, and use the right words. We say we love Jesus, but our hearts may be far from Him. God wants us to be real.
God sees our ways and knows our hearts,
From Him we cannot hide;
External righteousness can’t save,
For He knows what’s inside. —Sper
A false front belies a true faith.
For similar resources, search these topics:
Christian Life > Attitudes > Humility/Pride
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