HYPOCRISY
Mankind drapes himself in habits that will hide him from himself.
We don costumes to deny the true self from self (and from many others).
Jesus, very early in His preaching taught on the universal lack of a man's correct self-knowledge. Jesus did not tarry in raising the deceitfulness of the human heart. He was never backward in coming forward. Jesus rightly called this out as HYPOCRISY.
We tolerate in ourselves what we won't tolerate in others.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)
I am unable to see into me, but surely I can see into others.
There exists a blindside in all men that they construct. It is built by self-deception. Pride is the author, the architect of it all. That unrealistic and inaccurate examination of self that condemns others while honoring itself. A man shelters in himself a strong tolerance for what he becomes hostile towards in others.
One of the best ways to identify your blindside is to pay attention to your emotional reactions toward other people. Sure, your colleagues might be aggressive, arrogant, inconsiderate, or impatient, but if you don’t have those same qualities within you, you won’t have a strong reaction to their behavior. If you’re paying close attention, you can train yourself to notice your blindside when you witness strong negative emotional responses to others. Whatever bothers you in another is likely to be a blindside in yourself. ~ Scott Jeffrey
To morph the words of the good Lord somewhat:
The grit in his eye is shadowed by the boulder in mine. I must first excavate the boulder before I can truly see to dust his grit.
We all hate hypocrisy, to a man. While I am consumed by the sins of others I am blind to the larger sins that are mine. The proud point their fingers or raise their voice, while the invisible poor in spirit will know no such angst.
Today's Soul Snippet:
“If you are not temperate do not judge the fornicator, for you would transgress the law just as much. And He who said, 'Do not commit fornication' also said, 'Do not judge'." ~ Abba Theodore
ENJOY too ~ The Hiding of Holiness & The March of the Inner Man
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