Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

If (as indicated by the questioner) the question arises from a study of Matthew 5 (and, by extension I would think, from the rest of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6-7, as well), examples of superficial or hypocritical obedience to God would include such practices as:

paying attention only to obedience in outward actions (and also performing those outward actions with an intent of being noticed or seen by others, or of being able to tell yourself what a fine person you are), while not exercising the same care in regard to your thoughts and underlying motives (such as pride);

altering or avoiding actions that you know to be right because of criticism that you might receive from others because of them;

obeying only the letter of God's law, and not the intent or deeper meaning of it (as discussed by Jesus in Matthew 5:17-48);

allowing inconsistency between the beliefs that you claim to profess, and the attitudes and principles indicated by your actual behavior;

holding on to grudges or hostility toward others, rather than forgiving them in the same manner in which God has forgiven you for Jesus' sake;

claiming to have your focus on eternity, while all your thoughts and actions are centered on this earthly life and the accumulation of material possessions and wealth for yourself, to the exclusion of benefiting others.

July 15 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report