Actors

Jesus said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
- Luke 12:54-56

Did you notice how odd it seems for Jesus to use the word ‘hypocrite’ in this passage? It doesn’t seem to fit. He’s not talking to the religious leaders/Pharisees. He’s not harassing people because they are being all religious and judging others. He’s talking about the weather!

The original meaning of the word ‘hypocrite’ in the Greek language (which is the language the Bible was written in) is ‘actor.’ In the Greek theater, a hypocrite would literally pick up a mask and hold it in front of their face during a play. They were someone who on the surface looked one way, but underneath was another.

In this passage, Jesus challenges the crowd for being able to predict the future - but only on the surface. They could just see where the weather was headed, but couldn’t tell where God was headed. They appeared wise, but were not.

What is Jesus saying to you today about how you appear (or try to appear) versus how you really are? Own whatever hypocrisy you find in yourself and talk with him about it.