Proverbs 21:27
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The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
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Religion does not impress the God of heaven. You may comfort your foolish soul, but hypocrisy offends Him. He despises church attendance, giving, words, and service, if you have any sin in your life (15:8; 28:9). He hates it! He thinks it stinks! He cannot stand it! And if you have evil intentions in your religious service, He hates it that much more!
Men love religion, because they want to honor God, justify themselves to Him, please other men, and soothe their souls. Men love religion, because it is easy. Attending church, carrying a Bible, talking the talk, giving some money, and doing noble deeds are easy. They may even love God. But searching heart and life to rip out pleasant things that are contrary to the Bible is hard. So most live as hypocrites. But God hates hypocrisy!
Other men love religion, because it is useful. They attend church for personal glory, fleecing victims, or preying on women (I Sam 2:12-17,22; Matt 6:1-6; 23:14). They may volunteer for church offices. Every city has a few churches of society darlings stroking one another. These people are often agnostics or even atheists; they have no desire for God. They use religion for evil ambitions. And God hates them more than hypocrites!
Other men love religion, because it hides their wicked intentions to pursue sin. Consider Balaam's pretence at religion (Num 23:1-3), Absalom covering his treason (II Sam 15:7-13), Jezebel's fast to murder Naboth (I Kgs 21:9-13), the adulteress showing piety to her victim (7:13-14), and false teachers in Christian churches (II Pet 2:12-19). These all use religion to cover their love of sin, and God hates them more than hypocrites!
All men lie to themselves (Jer 17:9). They imagine God overlooks some or all of their sins because of their religious worship. But they are horribly wrong! God hates hypocrisy, and He despises all of their worship. He considers such worship to be sin (Is 1:13)! He hates it (Is 1:14)! And He promises to reject their prayers (Is 1:15)!
He blasted Israel repeatedly for religious hypocrisy (Ps 50:7-23; Is 1:10-20; 58:1-7; 66:1-4; Jer 6:20; 7:1-15; Hos 8:11-14; Amos 5:21-24; Mic 6:6-8; Mal 2:1-9). He considered and valued their sacrifice of an ox as murdering a man, a lamb as a dog's neck, and a gift as swine's blood (Is 66:3)! It is no different in the New Testament. Jesus Christ promised to spew the Laodiceans out of His mouth for their lukewarm religion (Rev 3:14-19).
How much hypocrisy do you think you can get away with? A little? You are wrong! All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do (Heb 4:12-14). He demands your whole heart and a holy life (Matt 6:24; 22:27). Anything less than that He counts as spiritual adultery and will judge it severely (Jas 4:1-10; Rev 2:1-5).
The religion of Jesus Christ requires a pure heart and holy life (John 4:24; Rom 12:1-2; Jas 1:27). Jesus mocked outward religion without internal holiness (Matt 5:17-20; 6:1-6; 23:23-28). He warned to perfect relationships before bringing a gift (Matt 5:21-26). Disobedience turns religious worship into idolatry and witchcraft (I Sam 15:22-23)!
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