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•38耶稣在教训之间，说：“你们要防备文士，他们好穿长衣游行，喜爱人在街市上问他们的安；39又喜爱会堂里的高位，筵席上的首座。40他们侵吞寡妇的家产，假意作很长的祷告。这些人要受更重的刑罚。”
关于法利赛人和文士，耶稣说了很多关于他们的事。我很感恩耶稣在圣经里讲这些内容，因为他揭露了那些看上去非常虔诚的人的假冒为善。看上去非常虔诚的人——我认为自己就是其中之一，他们的问题是，他们把自己看得太高了。他们变得非常喜欢听别人的赞美，同时掩饰自己的罪。也许我有一个公义圣洁的外表，但我的内心和这个世界上的任何人一样是有罪的。也许甚至更糟糕。
以前我服事的教会里有个人从来不去教会。当我问他为什么不来教会时，他说:“牧师，你的教会里有太多伪君子了。你在星期天早上看到的是他们最漂亮的样子，但我在星期五晚上的酒吧里看到过他们最坏的样子。”他看到了我们教会一些核心人物的虚伪，他感到很不舒服。
但我是这样回答他的。“我很高兴我们教会里有伪君子。”他看起来很惊讶，所以我解释了一下。“如果他们是伪君子，那他们只是假装相信耶稣。如果他们在教会里，他们就是在听上帝的话语，我祷告求圣灵会在他们心中产生悔改和真正的信心。”
我觉得耶稣身边有一些伪君子这件事并不会困扰他。耶稣也爱他们。他希望自己对他们说的话能改变他们的心。我也是如此。耶稣喜欢我坐在他脚前听他说话，因为他每天都在改变我的心。
祷告:主耶稣啊，求你去除我心中所有的假冒为善和罪恶!我相信，但我信不足，求你帮助我克服我的不信。阿们。
Mark 12:38-40: As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” (NIV)
There are so many things Jesus said to and about the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. I am thankful for this, because he unmasks the hypocrisy of the very religious people. The problem with very religious people, and I would consider myself one of them, is that they think too highly of themselves. They have become very good at loving the praise of people while masking their sins. I may have a veneer of righteousness on the outside, but inside I am just as sinful as anyone else in this world. Maybe worse.
A man in my congregation never came to church. When I asked him why he didn’t, he said, “Pastor, there are too many hypocrites in your church. You see them on Sunday morning in their finest, but I’ve seen them in the bar on Friday night at their worst.” He saw the hypocrisy of those who were pillars of our congregation and was offended.
But here is how I answered him. “I’m glad that there are hypocrites in our church.” He looked surprised, so I explained. “If they are hypocrites, they are only pretending to believe in Jesus. If they are in church, they are hearing the Word of God, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will work repentance and real faith in their hearts.”
I don’t think it ever bothered Jesus to have some hypocrites in the crowds around him. He loved them, too. He hoped what he said to them would change their hearts. And so it is with me. Jesus loves it when I sit at his feet and listen to his Word, because he is still changing my heart every day.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, root out all hypocrisy and sin from my heart! I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief. Amen.