DISCOURSE: 367
THE HYPOCRISY OF GEHAZI
2 Kings 5:21-22. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? And he said, All is well.
IN the preceding chapter we have seen a similar inquiry made by Gehazi himself; and a similar reply from the Shunamite, who came in quest of Elisha [Note: 2 Kings 4:26.]. The answer as made by her, under her most afflictive circumstances, justly fills us with admiration: but the answer as here given, calls forth our severest indignation. Naaman, when he saw Elisha’s servant running after him, was afraid that something was amiss; and therefore asked with great anxiety, Is all well? The hardened villain, one might have hoped, should have relented at the sight of Naaman’s simplicity: but that same wicked spirit who put the evil into his heart, furnished him with a ready answer, “All is well.” Now this answer is of considerable importance;
I. As illustrating the character of Gehazi—
[Previous to this we have nothing that gives us any particular insight into the character of Gehazi. He lived with a pious master, enjoyed the benefit of his instructions and example, and was an eye-witness of the miracles he wrought. One might have hoped therefore that he was impressed with a sense of true religion. But in this answer we see that he was a subtle, self-deluding hypocrite.
As far as related to the general scope of Naaman’s inquiry, the answer was true: but was it true, as conveying all that Gehazi intended to convey? or would Naaman have thought it true, if he could have seen all that was in the heart of this vile impostor? Was all well, when thou wast coming on so base an errand? when thou hadst fabricated such a falsehood? and wast making it an occasion of such dishonest gain? Was all well, when thou wast so belying thy master, so dishonouring religion, casting such a stumbling-block before Naaman, and bringing such guilt upon thine own soul? Did not thine own conscience reprove thee, when thou thus confidently daredst to assert, All is well?
From thy composure on the occasion it was evident, that thou expectedst to reap the fruit of thine iniquity in peace; and that, when thou repliedst, “All is well,” thou apprehendedst no evil. But didst thou forget that God saw thee? Didst thou forget that he noteth down every thing in the book of his remembrance, and will bring it forth at the last day in order to a final retribution? Didst thou forget that even now God could reveal thy wickedness to his prophet, and punish it by some heavy judgment? Hadst thou known at that moment that thy master’s eye was upon thee, and that in less than an hour afterwards the leprosy of Naaman would cleave to thee, and that it would be the wretched inheritance of thy children to their latest posterity, wouldst thou then have said, that All was well? Above all, if thou couldst have realized thine appearance at the bar of judgment, and the sentence that there awaited thee, wouldst thou then have said, All is well?
But so it is that sin blinds the eyes of men, and hardens their hearts: nor is there any passion in the human mind, which, if suffered to gain an ascendant over us, may not produce in us the very same effect. The ambition of Absalom, the envy of Cain, the malice of Esau, the revenge of Jacob’s sons, the covetousness of Judas, the lewdness of Herod, sufficiently shew, that, where there is some professed regard for religion, a predominant lust will soon break down the barriers of conscience, and bring into subjection every better principle — — —]
Let us now contemplate the answer,
II.
As affording some valuable lessons to the world at large—
The great improvement which we are to make of Scripture history, is, to deduce from every part of it lessons for our own instruction. Now from the conduct of Gehazi we learn,
1. That such characters must be expected to exist—
[If in the house of Elisha, his only servant was such an impostor; if even among the Apostles of our Lord there was a Judas; yea, and if among the very first Christians immediately after the day of Pentecost such a deceiver as Ananias was found; what reason have we to be surprised, if such characters exist in our day? Is not human nature now the same as ever it was? And has not our Lord taught us to expect, that, wherever the seed of his word is sown, the enemy will sow tares; and that no effectual separation of the tares can be made till the last day? Doubtless it is most distressing when any are found to act unworthy of their Christian profession; but the wonder is rather that so few hypocrites are found, than that some occasionally are detected in the Church of Christ.]
2. That the existence of such characters is no argument against true religion—
[People are apt to impute the misconduct of hypocrites to the doctrine they profess. But is there any thing in the Gospel that tends to encourage hypocrisy? Is not every branch of morality carried to its utmost height in the Gospel, and required as an evidence of our faith in Christ? Are all who embrace the Gospel hypocrites? Was Elisha a hypocrite because his servant was so? What would Naaman have said, if he had been dissuaded from embracing Judaism because he had been imposed upon by a Jew? Would he not have said, ‘ The man’s wickedness must rest on his own head: religion does not stand or fall with him: I am myself a monument of Jehovah’s power and grace, and am under the most unspeakable obligations to him; and, if all that profess his religion were hypocrites, it would be no reason why I should not worship him in spirit and in truth?’ Thus then must we say, “Offences will come; and woe be to those by whom they come:” but whilst I know myself to have been a leper, and feel that the Lord Jesus Christ has healed me of my leprosy, I must love him as my Benefactor, and serve him in the presence of the whole world.]
3. That in whatever light men now appear, they will ere long be seen in their true colours—
[Gehazi little thought that his master’s eye was upon him during the whole transaction: but his iniquity was soon exposed, and fearfully punished. Thus, in whatever place we be, God’s eye is upon us. In vain do we say, “Tush, God shall not see;” for he does see even the most secret recesses of our hearts: and the time is quickly coming, when, he “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the heart.”
Let not any of us then deceive our own souls. Let those who declaim against hypocrites remember, that, if they seek not after God, the hypocrisy of others will be no justification of their neglect: there is but one rule of judgment for all, and by that shall every man be justified or condemned [Note: Isaiah 3:10-11.].
But let those in whom hypocrisy, of any kind is found, tremble for themselves; for their guilt is heinous, and their condemnation will be proportionably severe. “If there be woe to the world because of offences, much more will there be to him by whom the offence cometh.” Against every sin therefore I would most earnestly caution you, but more especially against that which ensnared Gehazi. “The love of money is the root of all evil, and drowns many in destruction and perdition [Note: 1 Timothy 6:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:10; 2 Peter 2:14-15.].” This is most particularly the sin to which persons professing godliness are apt to be addicted, and under which they are most satisfied with their own state [Note: Ezekiel 33:31.]: but, whatever profession they may make, they deceive themselves to their eternal ruin.]