Psalm 20:1-4

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Job. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in Job 34:30:

Job 34:30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

The reign of the hypocrites in America is an affirmation of this statement from Elihu, who, ironically, set about to pick motes from Job’s eyes with beams in his own (Matthew 7:3-5; falsely accusing Job of keeping company with the workers of iniquity, and walking with wicked men” (Job 34:8; see 34:36-37) while sitting with Job’s accusers hurling insult and slander against a man of whom God said: “There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” (Job 1:8; see also 2:3)).

Solomon, by the Spirit, said: “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9). Through knowledge, Job is delivered from the mouth of the hypocrite (I mentioned Job 1:8, 2:3; see also 42:1-6, and GOD’s response in 42:7-17).

Along the still waters, my thoughts took another turn. I thought of Jesus’ repeated rebuke against the hypocritical nation (Isaiah 10:6; see Matthew 6:2-5, 16; 7:5; 15:7; 16:3; 22:18; 23:13-15, 23-29; and 24:51).*

And I wondered at something I had not noticed before: the rebukes of Jesus against their hypocrisy seemed not to faze them.**

But that should not surprise me. The hypocrite does not consider the beams in his own eyes when examining the motes in others. They strain at gnats while swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24).

When hypocrites reign, the people are ensnared. The word ensnared includes the idea of having a noose set upon one’s neck, or laid in a path to catch the unwary on their path, or to have a ring placed in the nose these vile people use to hook and control you.

We must not accept the nose rings they have constructed and that they attempt to force us to wear: racist, bigot, homophobe, or fascist. They use these to control the righteous, to ensnare them, to oppress them. It’s the ploy of hypocrites.

Sadly, the hypocrite is immune to reproof; they ignore us when we point out their hypocrisy. This does not mean we should not rebuke them for this evil; Jesus openly rebuked them for their hypocrisy. But what did get to them is when He demonstrated Kingdom power and freed the people from their oppression by declaring the truth: “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9).

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I saw the work of hypocrisy, the very great evil it produces, and the most egregious example: Jesus hung to die on Calvary. Then I received the knowledge that delivers the just: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I denied myself, took up my cross, and followed Jesus to His table.

At the table, I asked, Why does the hypocrite remain in their hypocrisy? How is it that they have no shame? He answered: They are content with its reward (Matthew 6:2-5, 16), the praise of men! I asked, if the hypocrite is not ashamed of their hypocrisy, by what are they reproved? He answered, Take from them their reward!

I understood immediately!

Jesus, you demonstrated the power of the kingdom and delivered the just from their influence; this cut into their coveted “praise of men.” He said, Remember how they lamented: ‘The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him’” (John 12:19). Men that are just (doers of truth—John 3:17-21) are drawn to the Light when they see the power of the kingdom manifest in the world (Luke 11:20—“But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.”) Show them the power of the kingdom. This will draw away from them the “praise of men,” and this will “faze” them. But beware, this is when they will first attempt to trap you in your words (Matthew 22:15), and, that failing, set about to kill you (Matthew 26:4).*** Ask Charlie’s widow!

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v6yzsg2-shepherds-pasture.html

[*It’s curious that the Spirit mentions hypocrisy (directly) 20 times in the entire New Testament, all of them are in the Gospels, and 15 of those are found in the Gospel of Matthew alone. Hypocrite/s is found four times in Luke and only once in Mark. The word describes someone who assumes a character not his own, someone who hides his true feelings, intentions, or beliefs by concealment or disguise. It is used almost exclusively to identify someone who elevates themselves in judgment of others. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would come to a nation (Israel) that had come to be characterized by hypocrisy, particularly among the leadership of that nation. Jesus Christ was crucified by such a “nation,” and lately, a Party characterized by hypocrites assassinated Charlie Kirk. The people culpable for his murder and who celebrate it posture as peaceful, loving, and good. When in fact they are violent, hateful, and have no compunction against stealing, killing, and destroying (John 10:10; Matthew 11:12). Curious, this “Party” formed in the days of John the Baptist and continues to today.]

[**The word faze comes from an Old English root, feese, which refers to a short run before a leap, where the short run represents the prompt (the inducement, that cause, the prod, or stimulation) preceding the action. The word feese means “to put to flight.” Interestingly, the word spelled freeze means to screw, which refers to the trench or hole made by swine in rooting. It identifies the threaded cylinder that is driven into place to hold something tightly or to secure it in a fixed position. It is used to speak of persons who put the “screws” on you in bargaining, or to instructors who “examine with great or unnecessary severity,” an examiner who is overly strict. When a hypocrite has examined you, you’ve been “screwed.”]

[***Matthew 22:15 ¶ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. Matthew 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.]