Two-Facedness

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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With Saul the hatred was manifest, it was not hidden. With many Christians the same jealousy, the same hatred, lurks in the heart even though it is not blatantly demonstrated in their deeds as was Saul's.
The bitter ill-will that you nurse in your heart
Will not stay inside where it first got its start:
For sinew and blood are a thin veil of lace —
What you wear in your heart you wear on your face.
Jealousy and ill-will harbored in the heart toward another breed deceitfulness. Being two-faced is all too common among us. Shameful is the Judas kiss. "One speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth his wait" (Jer. 9:88Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. (Jeremiah 9:8)). "Believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee" (Jer. 12:1616And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The Lord liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. (Jeremiah 12:16)). "The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart" (Psa. 55:2121The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. (Psalm 55:21)). "With their mouth they show much love, but their heart..." (Ezek. 33:3131And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. (Ezekiel 33:31)). "They hunt every man his brother with a net" (Mic. 7:22The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. (Micah 7:2)). "Lay a snare for him" (Isa. 19:2121And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. (Isaiah 19:21)).
"Sowing discord (promoting a clash or disharmony) among brethren" God hates (Prov. 6:1919A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:19)). Speaking evil (disparagement, tearing one another apart, ridiculing) of one another He forbids (James 4:1111Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. (James 4:11); Gal. 5:1515But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Galatians 5:15)). Both involve a motive unworthy of a Christian, that of exalting self at the expense of another. "Why dost thou set at naught thy brother?" (Rom. 14:1010But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)). "The Lord...will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts."