When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. Galatians 2:11-13
There is some controversy and debate as to whom Cephas actually was, some say Paul was referring to Peter while other scholars say it could have been one of the ‘lessor’ seventy disciples. In either case that individual was most surely at the Pentecost ‘event’. The divide between the scholars usually runs down the Orthodox Catholic line and the protestant line on this issue of who Paul is referring to in this passage.
Peter DEFINITELY had issues with Gentiles coming into the ‘family of God’ that Jesus had to give Peter a pretty major vision. (Acts 10) So either way the hypocrisy was a nagging issue that needed to be pointed out in more than one occasion within the early church. And that issue of hypocrisy is STILL an issue today in the Church.
What is hypocrisy in Biblical terms? According to Biblehub: The Greek word used here is hupokrisis meaning acting under a feigned part or (figuratively) deceit (hypocrisy), it also can involve condemnation and dissimulation. The concept here is the interior duplicity that pretends to be something it is not. In Scripture it denotes a conscious, willful contrast between outward appearance and inward reality, especially in religious matters. This is what Jesus called out in the Pharisees on multiple occasions. But here it is again – rising its head in the early church and today’s church. How often does this issue arise in you and us? Why? What is the reason(s) that makes hypocrisy so …easy?
Three are main roots of iniquity in the human fleshly nature: pride, fear, and lust (discontentment). Almost all sin can be traced back to one of these roots that are within us. It is within those roots that the sin of hypocrisy grows into a climbing and twisting tendril into our lives. Hypocrisy likes to squeeze the truth from us, hiding it, covering it, and telling you that it is the ‘better way’. Hypocrisy sets YOU as the most important thing and is VERY selfish. The evidence of hypocrisy today is astounding. It is EVERYWHERE! Why? The Truth of reality and the Truth of who Jesus actually is … is being ‘covered over’ and denied by those that love the ‘lie’ more than the Truth. Truth is NOT “your truth” or “my truth” it IS Jesus! That’s the REALITY!!! So, to ‘know’ the Truth what is required? Humility, confession, repentance, and gratitude towards Jesus! Actually, recognizing WHO Jesus really is and surrendering to Him. THEN testing EVERYTHING within you and that which comes to you starting with EVERY thought… by bringing it to Him. Are you humbly aware of the Truth the Holy Spirit is speaking into your mind? Can you recognize His voice within you?
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5
Is your opinion better or more important than His Truth? Do you ‘test everything’ that is flowing into and out of you before the throne of Christ? How aligned are you to His Truth … in yourself and your character? What are you ‘blind’ to that still remains in you? Are you submitting the to the Holy Spirit’s voice within you?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. Luke 6:42
We FIRST must be reconciled to Jesus through the conviction by the Holy Spirit, confessing our sin AND iniquities BEFORE Him. Then we must continually bring EVERYTHING to be ‘tested’ by Him that is flowing into and out of our lives. Thoughts, actions, emotions, words, dreams, visions, and EVERY other thing needs to be ‘tested’ at the Throne of Christ! This should become our daily discipline. Working hard to bring ourselves into alignment with Him. Keeping our focus on Him… always.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18
Ask the Holy Spirit … what lie am I still believing?