Do you know anyone among you who hear God’s word and instead of using it for the furtherance of his Gospel use it for selfish gains?

Yes, there are those among us, and Scripture remind us, that they would flatter us with their mouths, lying to us with their tongues; for even though they hear God’s words they do not practice them, for their hearts are not loyal to him, they are not faithful to his covenant. The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Open our eyes Lord, that, we may be able to recognize these deceivers who come to lead us astray.