12 Those who want to make a good impression and a fine show in the flesh would try to compel you to receive circumcision, simply so that they may escape being persecuted for allegiance to the cross of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
13 For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised in order that they may glory in your flesh (your subjection to external rites).
The same thing holds true today with so many. I know a lot of preachers and I see how they really live. They do not even begin to live by the burdens that they preach from the pulpit.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are. Matthew 23:15
But He said to them, Excellently and truly [so that there will be no room for blame] did Isaiah prophesy of you, the pretenders and hypocrites, as it stands written: These people [constantly] honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far distant from Me. Mark 7:6
Beware of supposed religious leaders who are constantly preaching and teaching what we must do. Beware of fire and brimstone preachers who so easily talk of people being sent to Hell. Beware of preachers who use the Old Testament as the basis for their sermons, to show how we must serve. They are pretenders and hypocrites, who place all of the burden on man and not on Jesus where it truly is.
For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. 2 Timothy 3:5
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