HYPOCRISY

Christ’s death unmasked the hypocrisy of the self-righteous religious leaders. They who would not acknowledge Jesus as Lord went and said “lord” or “Sir” to Pilate (Gr. Kurios)—seeking his help to ensure that Christ would forever remain dead. And, unlike the faithful followers of Christ, they who had often accused the Savior of Sabbath-breaking for His works of mercy now themselves desecrated the holy Sabbath with their works of malice. “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees … went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard” (Matthew 27:62-66; cf. Luke 23:56). Hypocrisy is at its worst when spiritual leaders stop at nothing to advance their personal, ideological, and political agenda.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim