In my favored NASB translation of the Bible, the word "hypocrite" is used 18 times, all by Jesus. The NIV uses the word 18 times, but once is in Proverbs. The word appears 31 times in the King James Version, with 11 in the Old Testament (8 of those in Job).
In whatever translation, Jesus owns the word "hypocrite." He uses it a few times in a general sense, describing "hypocrisy" per se: but most often it's how He characterizes some religious leaders of His time, usually the "scribes and Pharisees."
Except once. In Luke 12:54-56, speaking to "the crowds" who followed to hear His teaching, Jesus said
"Whenever you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it turns out. And whenever you feel a south wind blowing, you say, 'It will be a hot day,' and it turns out that way. You hypocrites ! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and sky, but how is it that you do not know how to analyze this present time ?" (my emphasis)
Undoubtedly Jesus knew that calling your audience unflattering names is a sure way to lose them. Or maybe His point was so important, and "the crowds" so clueless, that He thought it needed to be said ?
The Greek word there translated "analyze" is dokimazo: to test, examine closely, prove what is genuine. In secular use, Greeks would dokimazo a coin to ascertain if it was actually silver or gold. Jesus exhorted "the crowds" who followed Him to similarly "analyze" the spiritual time in which they were living.
If Jesus was speaking to us as well, about "this present time," two facts seem extremely relevant:
In Jesus' discourse on His return and "the end of the age" in Matthew 24, He repeatedly warns His followers not to be misled by the many deceivers who target Christians in that time, including "Christian" deceivers.
In 2016, 81% of self-described "Evangelicals" voted that a blatant liar should be America's leader; and 75% of "Evangelicals" again wanted to follow him in 2020.
Are today's crowds of Jesus' supposed "followers" Spiritually analyzing "this present time:" or do they deserve His harsh rebuke, "You hypocrites !"
Amen.
What spiritual time is it for Christians in America ?
