Posted on 09/11/2022 12:27:15 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9 KJV).
“An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour,” The hypocrite is like the Pharisees of Matthew 23:13. They use slander, or gossip, or tale-bearing to destroy another. Even though he didn’t shoot him, or stab him, or literally kill him, he destroys him nonetheless with words. Usually, whatever a hypocrite accuses another of, he is guilty of himself. Many times, he accuses his neighbor of things that the neighbor is innocent of, but the hypocrite is guilty of. He does that in order to take the blame off of himself, or the attention off of himself, and put it on someone else. He doesn’t care who bares the blame, he just doesn’t want it on him.
“An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour,” that should be a good encouragement to keep our mouth shut about our neighbor. Gossip of any kind can always be interpreted by the hearer to be much worse than intended. People hear what they want to hear, so it is best to not be any kind of conduit of news about another.
When someone asks, “How about old so-and-so?” You simply answer, “I don’t know anything about it. He probably has troubles just like you and I have. We should be praying for him instead of discussing him behind his back.”
“. . . but through knowledge shall the just be delivered,” from tale-bearing. The good man knows how much damage he could cause another through it, so he just doesn’t do it. He knows that God will bring it down upon his head, so he knows it is better not to throw any rocks. There is enough things about himself that he would not want gossiped about with others, that it is wise not to bring things out about others.
Now, we can accuse so-and-so of being wrong, but just remember that “with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:2). The best thing to do is pray for people, and to be merciful toward folks, and they’ll be merciful toward you. Be merciful, and be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another. The old nature doesn’t want to do that. The old flesh wants to justify itself and condemn others.
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:17-19 KJV).
A hypocrite is a fellow who isn't himself on Sundays.
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Wow! That's a keeper.
Usually, whatever a hypocrite accuses another of, he is guilty of himself. Many times, he accuses his neighbor of things that the neighbor is innocent of, but the hypocrite is guilty of. He does that in order to take the blame off of himself, or the attention off of himself, and put it on someone else. He doesn’t care who bares the blame, he just doesn’t want it on him.
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The very definition of psychological projection! I’ve found whatever I’m accused of, I know what to keep watch for from that accuser.
This is a good post, so much conviction for me here. Very good reminder reminders for me to keep me on God’s path and not my carnal nature.
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