Paul said that the hypocrites condemn themselves. They do not have a truthful judgment. Do you judge another person? If you do, you are actually condemning yourself. How will you escape the judgment of God? God’s kindness should lead to repentance. Be careful about the wrath of God. God will judge according to your actions with an eternal life reward. The self-seekers will end up with anguish and distress. Glory and honor will be for the do-gooders. God shows no partiality when he warned about hypocrites. Do you know any hypocrites?
God’s judgment
The invasion of Assyria (Isa 5:26-5:30)
“Yahweh will raise a signal
For a nation far away.
He will whistle for a people
At the ends of the earth.
Here they come!
Swiftly!
Speedily!
None are weary.
None stumbles.
None slumbers.
None sleeps.
Not a loin cloth is loose.
Not a sandal-thong broken.
Their arrows are sharp.
All their bows bent.
Their horses’ hoofs seem like flint.
Their wheels seem like the whirlwind.
Their roaring is like a lion.
Like young lions,
They roar.
They growl.
They seize their prey.
They carry it off.
None can rescue it.
They will roar over it
On that day,
Like the roaring of the sea.
If one looks to the land,
There is only darkness.
There is only distress.
The light grows dark
With clouds.”
This oracle of Isaiah probably refers to one of the various Assyrian invasions of Judah and Jerusalem between 735-701 BCE. The nation from far away may be the Babylonians who will execute God’s judgment on them. These invaders are actually acting on Yahweh’s behalf since he gave them a signal and a whistle. They are going to come speedily, swiftly, not stumbling, sleeping, or growing weary. Their loin clothes and sandals are tight and ready to go. Their spears, bows and arrows, as well as horses are on the move. They roar like a lion about to eat its prey. They roar like a sea storm about to hit land. There will be darkness and distress, as everything will be cloudy.
Sins of pride (Sir 21:4-21:7)
“Panic
Will waste away riches.
Insolence
Will also waste away riches.
Thus the house of the proud
Will be laid waste,
Will be uprooted.
The prayer of the poor
Goes from their lips
To God’s ears.
His judgment comes speedily.
Whoever hates reproof
Walks in the steps of sinners.
Whoever fears the Lord
Will repent in their heart.
The mighty in speech
Are widely known.
When they slip,
The sensible person knows it.”
Terror, violence, panic, and insolence waste riches. Thus the house of the proud will be destroyed. On the other hand, the prayers of the poor go directly from their lips to God’s ears. God’s judgment will come quickly. If you hate criticism, you are walking in the steps of sinners. If you fear the Lord, you will repent in your heart. The great speakers are known far and wide, but when they slip up, the sensible people know it right away.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 