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From the widest possible survey of ancient Greek literature
the word
hypocrite refers to an actor or puppet [1], a non-genuine
person, a person
who is operating from an artificial motivation,
premise or agenda, below
or underneath the level of reality; and the
etymology of the word
implies an impaired or lower level of critical
thinking ability or judgment. - Site author
Hypocrisy Development
Updated:
01/24/2020
Not born as hypocrite
Do we think that a
thoroughly trained scientist with enough of the proper knowledge and
equipment could go to a hospital nursery, carefully examine each newborn
baby, even study their behavior, and determine which babies are "born"
hypocrites or which are even more likely to turn out to be that way?
Isn't it hard to believe that this is even remotely possible, that
hypocrites are born or that hypocrisy is inherited from genes?
Hypocrisy not deliberate
Do we think that
somewhere in the development process of childhood, teenage years, or as
a young adult, a person deliberately, consciously "sits down" and chooses to be a
hypocrite? Can we visualize him on some pivotal day saying to
himself, "Hypocrisy is very rewarding and hypocrites are neat. I
would like to be a hypocrite in life, and I'm going to try to maximize my
hypocrisy?" This would be pretty hard to
imagine since nobody likes a hypocrite, not even another hypocrite when
he recognizes it; and I doubt if anyone even likes to be called a
hypocrite. Isn't it as equally absurd, to think that anyone
deliberately, consciously chooses to be a hypocrite, as it is to think
they are born as a hypocrite? Maybe you catch it like the flu? Not likely!
Only crime and the criminal, it is true, confront us with the perplexity
of radical
evil; but only the hypocrite is really rotten to the core. - Hannah Arendt
If hypocrisy is not
inherited and the syndrome is not formally chosen and you don't "catch"
it, how does it develop? Well, it does develop, you know. I've seen
some pretty good hypocrites in my time–even been one myself, actually turned
in a very credible performance as one. Maybe it affects everyone, just
develops naturally, and some people are more resistant to it. What
causes it, and more importantly, is there any way to get over it? I
don't like to think I am still a hypocrite, at least a big one. But
first, what exactly is it?
What IS hypocrisy?
Let's make a distinction between pretention and hypocrisy. Pretension is
representing yourself a being more virtuous than you really are. It should
be clear that in this article we are talking about fundamental hypocrisy, not just
pretension or trivial inconsistencies. Sure, we get sucked into or pressured by
circumstances into behavior inconsistent with what we have been taught
and what we would reactively defend, but I'm not talking about just
behavior or weakness to live up to what we have been taught or what
others expect. You have to become a hypocrite before you can
behave like one, being comes before behaving.
The word, HYPOCRISY, is
a compound word from Greek (Hypo), meaning, below,
under, beneath, and Greek (Krisis),
meaning distinction, discrimination, judgment, decision, critical
thinking, and although the usage in Greek culture means "actor" or "pretender" the word
that Jesus used in Aramaic probably meant artificial thinking, belief or behavior lacking in
critical judgment or operating below the level of reality.
Regardless, the
essence of an actor or puppet is that he/it is following a script, and is not using his
own critical thinking or judgment in what he says and does. Hypocrisy is
tantamount to intellectual irresponsibility and implies a form of mendacity or dishonesty on
the most basic level,–consistency of rationality, logic and reason–that is coming
from a false set of values or beliefs. The ramifications of a lack of
critical thinking are such that a corrupt belief system is accepted. It
is hard to believe that an intelligent person would actually build a corrupt one
carefully for himself. We see that most people cobble one together from existing major
pieces, pieces of shallow religious teachings that are inconsistent and unworkable in and of themselves or
together, and these inconsistencies and aberrations naturally show up in a person's
thinking and behavior.
The one aspect of humanity that Jesus railed against is
hypocrisy, being run by a false agenda, which is the opposite of being genuine or authentic.
But WHY?! Why focus on hypocrisy and not, for instance, the seven deadly
sins of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride? Surely in the
realm of evil, hypocrisy is a pittance compared to these! How could Jesus
rail against hypocrisy but not oppression? Oppression doesn't help us
understand the truth, but hypocrisy PREVENTS us from understanding the
truth!
The word "hypocrisy" has suffered a significant drift or change from what
it originally meant. It is important to make sure that we understand that
the original meaning of this Greek word CANNOT mean what the word generally
implies today. I have canvassed one of the world's greatest scholars of
ancient Greek[1], one who has read every scrap of it available, and he assures
me that the word "hypocrite" is consistently used to portray an actor or a
puppet in a play. Yet, how can we say that a puppet or an actor has made
claims of integrity and then fails to live up to them? This actually fails
to make sense, and bolsters the proposed original meaning of lacking or
being below good judgment or critical thinking.
Hypocrisy and pretention come from belief
Thus we can say that hypocrites are so because they are apathetic about what they have
accepted or chosen to believe. This is essentially the one thing
that Jesus had a problem with in human beings. Not that his problem
was with their "sins of the flesh" or primarily their pattern of behavior,
because he understood that these were largely determined by what they had
been taught and accepted as belief, their training and modeling, their body
chemistry, their innate needs and desires, etc.
Jesus knew that humans are not born as thinkers, choosers or deciders but
as perceivers.[2] Partially because of their limited
lifespan but mostly because their educational system did not concentrate on
critical thinking but upon religious indoctrination, most did
not even have a chance to progress from being primarily just a perceiver to being in control
of themselves. His problem with them was more fundamental, was with their lack
of judgment and critical thinking in evaluating their own belief system, their
inability to see that their behavior was inconsistent not
only with humaneness and common sense, but even with basic tenets of their own sacred
writings. Hypocrisy is tantamount to intellectual irresponsibility. They are
essentially the same syndrome.
In simple terms, acting pretentiously or inconsistently
doesn't make a person a hypocrite, a person displays
pretentiousness BECAUSE they ARE a hypocrite.
Most men of good will would say they
place the highest priority on knowing the truth, and they would deny
being willing to deliberately promulgate falsehood for no higher purpose
than to win an argument, to defend a personal position, or even for
career advancement. These men
would all claim to value the truth over what they really value more. It
is in this most fundamental way–men pay lip service to the truth, then
let ego and petty, mundane personal agendas override–that we are using the terms hypocritical
and hypocrisy. Any man driven to use
invalid argument techniques can be
considered to be a hypocrite.
Again the point that seems to be always overlooked by those that think the
word hypocrisy refers to acting and not to a lack of judgment or
critical thinking is that an actor is working from, or is controlled by, a
script, something that is artificial or unreal, something that is
imagined or made up instead of coming from the judgment of his real self in
real circumstances. Likewise, a puppet is bereft of any self judgment or
critical thinking. It is in this more fundamental sense that the word
takes on its deeper meaning. To reiterate, acting pretentiously or
inconsistently with what is represented doesn't make a person a hypocrite, a
person displays pretention or acts inconsistently BECAUSE they ARE a
hypocrite.
Hypocrisy Gospel passages
All of the passages in
the Gospels where Jesus uses the term hypocrite are included below. He
generally reserved this most derogatory term for those that were lacking in
such basic authenticity, and who either made
judgments on other people or actively taught their wrong belief
system to others, as well as indulging in pretentious behavior.
The scary thing is that we have no reason to believe
that the hypocrites he referred to were aware or conscious of their own
hypocrisy. They considered themselves to be God's special people and the
shepherds of God's people, they each one had vast portions of scripture
committed to memory, and they tried hard to be righteous by a long
standing tradition of what was considered to be good behavior.
BLIND LEAD THE BLIND
Luke 6:39-42 Mt 7:3-5 He told them a parable: "Is
a blind man able to lead a blind man, won't they both fall into the
ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one having been
matured will be like his teacher. Why do you see the twig in your
brother's eye, but don't consider the log that is in your own eye? Or
how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the twig in
your eye,' with yourself not seeing the log in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the log out of your eye, and then you will see
clearly to take out the twig in your brother's eye."
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term to
their position of superiority in teaching and belief rather than pretentious acting.
HYPOCRITES HONOR WITH LIPS
Mark 7:1-23 Mt 15:1-20 Then some of the Pharisees
and theologians coming from Jerusalem assembled, and seeing that some
of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed, they found
fault and approach Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples transgress the
tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat
food." For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash
their hands to the wrists, holding to the tradition of the elders. And
they do not eat from market unless they wash themselves; and there are
many other things which they received to observe, the washing of cups,
and pots, and vessels of bronze, and couches.
Then the Pharisees and
the theologians question him, "Why do your disciples not walk according
to the tradition of the elders, but eat the bread with unwashed hands?"
Replying, he said to them, "Isaiah prophesied well concerning you{pl},
you{pl} hypocrites! As it has even been written:
'This people with their lips honor me,
but their heart is far away from me;
and they worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'
Commentary: Here again Jesus is applying the
term to their teaching and belief rather than pretentious behavior.
So, forsaking the
precept of God, you{pl} hold the tradition of men, washings of
utensils and cups and many other such things you{pl} do." And he said
to them, "You{pl} effectively set aside the precept of God, that you{pl} may keep your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and
your mother'; and, 'He speaking evil of father or mother, let him end by
death'. But you{pl} say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother,
Corban, that is, an offering,'–whatever by me you would have gained–
then you{pl} no longer allow him to do anything for his father or
mother, making void the word of God by your tradition which you{pl}
passed on. And many such things you{pl} do."
Note: Under the pretext of putting God first, some
of the religious leaders encouraged the tradition of Corban, a
pronouncement that you were dedicating your property, income or
increase to the upkeep of the temple and its services. This sometimes
effectively cut off needy family members, engendering a hypocritical
situation as it always does when God or anything associated with God is
put before the tangible love of human beings.
And calling all the
people to him he said to them, "Hear me, all of you{pl}, and understand:
there is nothing having entered into a man from the outside which is
able to profane him; nothing going into the mouth defiles the man, but
that coming out of the mouth, this defiles the man. If anyone has ears
to hear, let him hear." And when he entered the house, away from the
crowd, his disciples came and questioned him about the parable, "Do you
know that the Pharisees were offended upon hearing this saying?" But
answering, he said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not
planted will be rooted up. Leave them; they are blind guides of the
blind, and if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a pit."
But Peter answering, said to him, "Explain the parable to us."
And he said to them, "Then are you{pl}
also dense? Do you{pl} not perceive that whatever entering into a man
from outside cannot profane him, since it does not enter his heart, but
into his stomach, and then goes out into the waste bowl purging out all
the foods?" And he said, "That having passed out of a man, that defiles
a man; for the things coming from the mouth come forth from the heart,
those defile the man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come
evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, greediness,
wickedness, deceit, wicked visions, slander, pride, foolishness–all
these evil things come out from within and profane the man, but to eat
with unwashed hands does not profane the man."
Commentary: Here with his questions it is clear
that Jesus is applying the term to their lack of judgment along with
what was in their hearts that produces his list of evils.
SIGNS FROM HEAVEN
Matthew 16:1-4 Mk 8:11-13 And the Pharisees and
Sadducees went out and began to argue with him, and testing him they
asked him to show them a sign from heaven[3].
He sighed in his spirit[4] and
answered them, "With evening coming, you{pl} say, 'Fair weather; for
the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'Stormy today, for the sky is red
and overcast.' Hypocrites! You{pl} indeed know how to read the
face of the sky, but the signs of the times you{pl} cannot. Why
does this generation seek a sign? An evil and adulterous
generation seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the
sign of Jonah." Leaving them and entering the boat again, he went
away to the other side.
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term to
their lack of judgment in spiritual matters.
SHARING IN SECRET
Matthew 6:1-4 "Take care that you{pl} don't do
your merciful deeds before men in order to be seen by them. Otherwise
you{pl} will have no reward from your Father in the heavens. Then when
you{pl} extend mercy, do not trumpet before you{pl}, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may
be praised by men. Truly, I say to you{pl}, they have their reward.
But with you{pl} extending mercy, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing, so that your mercy may be in secret; and your
Father seeing in secret will reward you{pl} in the open.
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term to
their lack of judgment in spiritual matters and their pretentious
behavior.
TEACHING HOW TO PRAY
Matthew 6:5-15 Lk 11:1-4 He being in a certain
place was praying, and as he ceased, a certain one of his disciples
said to him, "Sir, teach us to pray, even as John taught his
disciples." And he said to them, "When you{pl} pray, you{pl} shall not
be like the hypocrites; for they love standing in the synagogues
and at the open street corners to pray, so that they may be seen by
men. Truly, I say to you{pl}, they have their reward.
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term to
their disingenuous motives and their pretentious behavior.
"But when you{pl} pray
go into your room, and shutting the door, pray to your Father in secret;
and your Father seeing in secret will reward you{pl} in the open. But
when praying, do not use vain repetition as the Gentiles do; for they
think that by many phrases they will be heard. Do not be like them, for
your Father knows what things you{pl} have need for before you{pl} ask
him. You{pl} then pray like this:
Our Father in the heavens,
Let your name be hallowed.
Let your kingdom come.
Let your will be done,
also on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and dismiss our debts,
as we also forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into being tested,
but deliver us from evil.
Because of you is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory for the ages, amen.
"For if you{pl} forgive
men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you{pl};
but if you{pl} do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses."
Note: This would be temporary until the Age of
Justice.
FASTING IN SECRET
Matthew 6:16-18 "And when you{pl} fast, do not be
as the hypocrites, for darkening their countenances, they
disfigure their faces so that their fasting may be noticed by men.
Truly, I say to you{pl}, they have their reward. But with you{pl}
fasting, anoint your head and wash your face, so as not to appear
fasting to men, but to your Father in secret; and your Father seeing in
secret will reward you{pl} in the open."
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term to
their disingenuous motives and their pretentious acting.
WOE TO THE PHARISEES
Luke 11:37-54 Mt 23:23-28 And while speaking, a
certain Pharisee asked that he would dine with him; going in he
reclined. Upon seeing this the Pharisee pondered that he did not first
wash before dinner. And the Master said to him, "Woe to you{pl},
theologians and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you{pl} cleanse
the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of
extortion, thievery and excess. You{pl} fools! Did not the one making
the outside make the inside also? You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the
inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside of them also may
become clean. Then give compassion from the things being within; and
behold, everything is clean for you{pl}.
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term to
what is in their hearts, their lack of judgment, disingenuous motives
and pretentious behavior.
"Woe to you{pl},
theologians and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you{pl} tithe mint
and dill and cummin, and ignore the discernment and love of God, and
you{pl} have abandoned the weightier matters of the canon, justice and
mercy and faith; these things one should do, and not abandon the
others. You{pl} blind guides, the ones straining out the gnat and
swallowing the camel!
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term
primarily to their lack of judgment.
"Woe to you{pl}
Pharisees! for you{pl} love the high seat in the synagogues and the
salutations in the markets.
"Woe to you{pl},
theologians and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you{pl} are like
unseen graves, and men walking over don't know it; you{pl} are like
whitewashed sepulchres, which indeed outwardly appear beautiful, but
within they are full of dead bones and all foulness. So you{pl} also
indeed outwardly appear reasonable to men, but within you{pl} are full
of hypocrisy and disorder."
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term to
what is in their hearts, their lack of judgment, disingenuous motives
and pretentious acting.
One of the lawyers
answering says to him, "Teacher, in saying these things you insult us
also." And he said, "Woe to you{pl} lawyers also! for you{pl} load men
with burdens difficult to bear, and you{pl} yourselves don't touch the
burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you{pl} because you{pl} build
the tombs of the prophets, yet your fathers killed them. Then you{pl}
are witnesses and consenters to the deeds of your fathers; for they
indeed killed them, and you{pl} build their tombs. Because of this
also, the Wisdom of God said,
'I will send them prophets and apostles,
and some of them they will kill and ban,'
that the blood of all the prophets having been shed
from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, killed between the
altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you{pl}, it will be required of
this generation.
"Woe to you lawyers!
for you{pl} took the key of knowledge; you{pl} yourselves did not enter,
and those entering you{pl} kept out." As he was saying these things the
theologians and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and lying in
wait for him to trick him concerning many things, and to provoke him to
speak of many things, lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch
something from his mouth so they might accuse him.
LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES
Luke 12:1-3 While thousands of the crowd being
assembled so as to trample upon one another, he first began to say to
his disciples, "Be wary for yourselves about the leaven of the
Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is being completely concealed
that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore
what you{pl} said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what
you{pl} spoke in the ear in private rooms will be proclaimed upon the
housetops."
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term
primarily to their teaching as well as their lack of judgment.
COME TO CAST FIRE NOT PEACE
Luke 12:49-59 "I came to cast fire upon the earth;
and how much I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be
baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is finished! Do you{pl}
think that I came to give peace on earth? No, I tell you{pl}, but
rather division; for from now on in one house there will be five having
been divided, three against two and two against three will be divided;
father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and
daughter against her mother, mother‑in‑law against her daughter‑in‑law
and daughter‑in‑law against her mother‑in‑law."
He also said to the
crowds, "When you{pl} see the cloud rising in the west, at once you{pl}
say, 'A storm is coming'; and so it happens. And when a south wind is
blowing, you{pl} say, 'It will be hot'; and it happens. You{pl}
hypocrites! You{pl} know how to read the appearance of earth and
sky; but you{pl} do not know how to interpret the present time?
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term
primarily to their lack of judgment.
"And why do you{pl} for
yourselves not judge the righteous? As you{pl} go with your accuser to
a magistrate, make an effort to settle with him, so that he doesn't drag
you{pl} to the judge, and the judge will deliver you{pl} to the officer,
and the officer throw you{pl} into prison. I tell you{pl}, in no way
may you{pl} leave there until you{pl} have paid even the last copper."
BENT WOMAN STRAIGHTENED ON SABBATH
Luke 13:10-17 Now he was teaching in one of the
synagogues on the Sabbath holidays. And behold, there was a woman
having a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; and she was bent over
and was not able to be fully erect. Seeing her, Jesus called her near
and said to her, "Woman, you have been freed from your infirmity." And
he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made erect, and she
praised God. But the synagogue ruler reacting, being upset that Jesus had
healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days in which
it is right to work; coming on those, then be healed, and not on the
Sabbath holiday." Then the Master answered him, "You{pl} hypocrites!
Does not each one of you{pl} on the Sabbath holiday free his ox or his
ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And this woman being
a daughter of Abraham whom the Obstructer bound, behold, for eighteen
years, was it not right to free her from this bond on the Sabbath
holiday?" And with him saying this, all those opposing him were put to
shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things happening
because of him.
Note: Notice this physical disorder of not being
able to straighten her back is referred to as "spirit of infirmity" and
"Satan bound". The Hebrew word Satan means obstructer or blocker.
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term
primarily to their teaching as well as their lack of judgment.
RENDER UNTO CAESAR
Matthew 22:15-22 Mk 12:13-17 Lk 20:19-26 Upon
going, the Pharisees took counsel so that they might entrap him in his
discourse. Watching carefully, they sent spies, pretending to be
harmless so that they might catch what he said and deliver him up to the
authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they send forth their
disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know
that you are truthful, and you teach the way of God truthfully, and no
one concerns you, for you do not regard the face of men. Tell us, then,
what you think. Is it proper to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we
give, or should we not give?"
But Jesus, knowing
their malevolence, said, "Why do you{pl} test me, you{pl} hypocrites?
Show me the coin for the tax. Bring me a denarius, that I may see it."
And they brought him a coin. And he says to them, "Whose image and
inscription is this?" They say to him, "Caesar's." Then he says to
them, "Render then the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God
to God." Upon hearing this, they marveled; and leaving, they went away.
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term
primarily to disingenuous motives as well as their lack of judgment.
WOES UPON THE HYPOCRITES
Matthew 23:13-22,29-36 "But woe to you{pl},
theologians and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you{pl} shut the
kingdom of the heavens before men; for you{pl} do not enter yourselves,
nor allow those going in to enter. Woe to you{pl}, theologians and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for you{pl} devour the houses of the
widows, and for a pretense are praying long, therefore you{pl} receive
the more condemnation. Woe to you{pl}, theologians and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for you{pl} travel sea and land to make one proselyte,
and when he becomes one, you{pl} make him a son of Gehenna twice as much
as yourselves.
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term
primarily to their teachings, disingenuous motives, pretentious acting,
as well as their lack of judgment.
"Woe to you{pl}, blind
guides, those saying, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but
whoever swears by the gold of the temple is a bound one.' Blind fools!
For which is greater, the gold or the temple sanctifying the gold? And,
'If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by
the gift upon it is a bound one.' Blind fools! For which is greater,
the gift or the altar sanctifying the gift? So then, he swearing by the
altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and he swearing by the
temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it; and the one swearing
by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one sitting upon it.
Commentary: Here Jesus is on about their
teachings, as well as their lack of judgment.
"Woe to you{pl},
theologians and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you{pl} build the
tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the reasonable, and
say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been
sharers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Thus you{pl} witness
against yourselves that you{pl} are sons of those murdering the
prophets, and you{pl} fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
Commentary: Here Jesus is applying the term
primarily to their internal dishonesty.
"You{pl} serpents!
You{pl} brood of vipers! How do you{pl} escape the fate of Gehenna?
Therefore behold, I send you{pl} prophets and wise men and scholars, and
some of them you{pl} will kill and crucify, and some of them you{pl}
will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from village to village,
so that all the righteous blood shed on earth comes upon you{pl}, from
the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of
Barachiah, whom you{pl} murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
Truly, I say to you{pl}, all these things will come upon this
generation.
PARABLE OF UNFAITHFUL SERVANT
(This parable should be applied to the Parousia, that is, the display
of his earthly presence, and the Apocalypse, the great unveiling via
the life, message, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.)
Luke 12:41-48 Mt 24:45-51 Peter said to him,
"Master, do you tell this parable for us or also for all men?" And the
Master said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent steward, whom his
lord will appoint over his household, to give them their portion of food
in due season? Blessed is that servant his lord will find so doing when
he comes. Truly, I say to you{pl}, he will appoint him over all his
possessions. But if that servant says to himself, 'My lord delays in
coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to
both eat and drink and get drunk, the lord of that servant will come on
a day when he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will
separate him, and will place his portions with the unbelievers, the
hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Commentary: Here Jesus identifies the
hypocrites as the unbelievers.
But that servant knowing his lord's will, and did not
prepare or act according to his will, will be beaten with many lashes.
But he not knowing, and doing what deserved a beating, will be beaten
with few lashes. Everyone given much, of him will much be required; and
to whom much was deposited, exceedingly more will be asked of him.
Commentary: Of course, we should understand that the "beating" in the
time of judgment will be intense regret and be self inflicted.
Footnotes:
[1] Amirthanayagam David, one of the truly great
scholars of ancient Greek language.
[2] Human beings are largely at the mercy of their parents, schools
and society for character development as they are growing into adulthood.
Various of our multifarious facets get cultured or not, as the case may be,
and the chances are slim that the critical thinking faculty gets very well
developed. Thus, most remain just being shallow or superficial perceivers. See
Human Volition and
Free Will
[3] They were looking for a specific sign, the
return of the Saturnian triune configuration in the sky.
[4] Note that the word "spirit" as used here clearly
means attitude. |