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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 4, NUMBER 34, AUGUST 22, 2004 THE WOUNDS OF HYPOCRISY – OR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS In John 13, Jesus was involved with His apostles in what has come to be known as the Last Supper. One of the things the Lord did on that occasion was to wash the feet of the disciples. As He explained to them the significance of what he had done, Jesus began to make comments related to the one who was to betray Him that very night. In verse 18, the Lord said, “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” With that statement Jesus had reference to Judas. Where do we first hear those words and what was it that prompted their original use? We find it in Psalm 41, a psalm of David, in verse 9. He wrote, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” It is my belief that David wrote that psalm with Ahithophel in mind. Ahithophel was David’s friend. He was his counselor, a respected man and trusted confidant of the king. 2 Samuel 16:23 tells us, “And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.” Yet this confidant, friend, and personal advisor betrayed David and threw his allegiance to the rebellious son of the king, Absalom. In the east, to eat bread with someone was viewed as a sign of friendship and loyalty. In this case that friendship was betrayed and that loyalty was a fleeting thing. Ahithophel said all of the right things, but his actions ended up speaking much louder than his words. It was to this individual that Jesus compared Judas. Another psalm that is believed to refer to Ahithophel and his betrayal of his friendship with David is Psalm 55. Look at just a few of the verses with me and note the anguish of David over the hypocrisy of one that he believed was his friend. Verses 12-14 say, “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.” Skip down to verses 20-21. “He hath put forth his hand against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” David’s words regarding Ahithophel, “but it was thou” remind me of the Lord’s words to Judas in the garden when He said, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). Judas’ actions ultimately spoke louder than all of the compliments and praise he had given to the Lord, just as had been the case with Ahithophel and David. In all relationships in life it is true that actions speak louder than words. Make no mistake, what we say is extremely important and we will be held accountable for it all. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” However, words that are not matched by our actions are like “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:2). They are hypocrisy. This is true in man’s relationships with his fellow man, as we have so clearly seen with David and Ahithophel, and it is true in our relationship to God. Words are just words if they are not supported by appropriate behavior. Look at Matthew 15:1-9. It tells us, “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem , saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Here were people who spoke of their devotion to God, we might say that they “talked a good game”, but their actions didn’t match their words. I think of Jesus saying, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” in Luke 6:46 . I think of what James wrote in James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth in profit?” It is true that while words are vitally important, they don’t mean much if not backed up with corresponding behavior. So, let’s all make sure that we are careful what we say and if we don’t really mean something, don’t say it. Plus, we can take heart from knowing that if we have been, or ever are, betrayed by the actions of a friend, so was David, and so was our Lord.
Greg Litmer
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