THE PITIABLE DAMNATION OF THE HYPOCRITES
Sequel to THE TWO FACES OF THE HYPOCRITES
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Job 27:8 KJV
Behind every act of hypocrisy is a hope of gain. The hypocrite wants as much gain as possible, and it’s why he engages in the act of hypocrisy to achieve that. The hypocrites don’t want to lose anything. And as a matter of fact, there is a gain achievable via the contradictory life of hypocrisy. A hypocrite can succeed in gaining the praise and applause of men and the wealth of this world. Jehu, one of the kings in Israel gained a kingdom by his hypocrisy and the Pharisees also gained entrance into many widow’s houses via their deceptive acts of hypocrisy. Upon these gains, the hypocrites build his hopes.
The hypocrite undeceived. He will, at last, see himself wretchedly cheated; for, [1.] God shall take away his soul, sorely against his will. Luke 12:20, Thy soul shall be required of thee. God, as the Judge, takes it away to be tried and determined to its everlasting state. He shall then fall into the hands of the living God, to be dealt with immediately. What will his hope be then? It will be vanity and a lie; it will stand him in no stead. The wealth of this world, which he hoped in, he must leave behind him, Ps 49:17. The happiness of the other world, which he hoped for, he will certainly miss of. He hoped to go to heaven, but he will be shamefully disappointed; he will plead with every act of his hypocrisies-external profession, privileges, and performances, but all his pleas will be overruled as frivolous. The hypocrite will hear the Voice of The Impartial Judge of the whole earth, “Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquities.” The hypocrite, with all his gains and all his hopes, will be miserable in a dying hour. Because the hypocrite’s prayer will not be heard. “Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?” No, He will not; it cannot be expected He should. If the hypocrite seeks the Lord while the Lord may be found and true repentance come upon him, God will hear his cry and accept him (Isa 1:18); but, if he continues to be impenitent and unchanged, let him not think to find favour with God. The judgment of the great day will come; fearfulness will surprise the hypocrites, Isa 33:14. Then he will cry to God, will pray, and pray earnestly but God will not hear him.
The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment.
There is the misery, not only of those who are openly wicked and profane but of hypocrites, who secretly practice wickedness under a show and profession of religion. Dissembled piety is double iniquity, and the ruin that attends it will be accordingly. The hottest place in hell will be the portion of hypocrites, as our Saviour intimates in Matthew 24:51. It’s very possible that the hypocrite for a time may prosper, be secure and easy, and very merry. You may see them in triumph and joy, triumphing and rejoicing in their wealth and power and position, their grandeur and success, triumphing and rejoicing over their poor honest neighbours whom they vex and oppress. They may feel no evil and hold no one in fear. But it is written concerning them, “The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrites is but for a moment.” Job’s friends were initially reluctant to agree,
at first, that wicked people might prosper at all (Job. 4:9), until Job proved it plainly (Job 9:24; 12:6), but he lays down the balanced truth that they will not prosper for long. Their joy is but for a moment, and will quickly end in endless sorrow. Though the hypocrite is ever so great, and rich, and jovial, the hypocrite will be humbled, and mortified, and made miserable in the end.
at first, that wicked people might prosper at all (Job. 4:9), until Job proved it plainly (Job 9:24; 12:6), but he lays down the balanced truth that they will not prosper for long. Their joy is but for a moment, and will quickly end in endless sorrow. Though the hypocrite is ever so great, and rich, and jovial, the hypocrite will be humbled, and mortified, and made miserable in the end.
Woe Unto The Hypocrites!
Jesus pronounced woes unto the hypocrites. And a woe from Christ is a woe indeed, and a woe without remedy except the hypocrites repent! Honestly, the hypocrites are not a lucky folk.
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matt 23:13-15 KJV
The life of a hypocrite is a woeful life. A hypocrite is an accursed person! The hypocrite has no hope! If at all he has any, the hope of the hypocrite shall fail. Their hopes shall disappoint them on the long run. Whatever the hypocrites hope to gain by their acts and lifestyle of hypocrisy will ultimately amount to a loss.
Abimelech in the Holy Book of the Christians hoped for and gained ascendancy to the throne by hypocrisy, but eventually was fatally wounded by a woman! Absalom gained popularity and cheap acceptance from the people of Israel with the hope of stealing the throne from his father, but he died before the realization of his dream. His hope was cut short. He died hanging on a tree: rejected among men, unacceptable by Heaven. Judas also dies the death of a hypocrite; he gained the wages of unrighteousness but never lived to enjoyed it. He died by committing suicide. Of a truth, “the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment” if at all he ever has any joy. Though hands joined with hands, the hypocrites shall not go unpunished, if not here, definitely in the hereafter!
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
The only way of escape from the condemnation and damnation of the hypocrites is REPENTANCE! The Scripture says, “Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out and the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Make up your mind to be whole, sincere and true to yourself and others. Let people know you for who you are.