The False Hood
THE FALSE HOOD
Read Matthew 6:1-6.
“Dad, what’s a falsehood?” asked Katie as she plunked herself in a chair.
“A falsehood?” Dad asked in surprise. “Well, a falsehood is a lie.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Katie. “But why is it called a falsehood?”
“Hmmm,” pondered Dad. “Well, one explanation I’ve heard is that it comes from something done hundreds of years ago. It was during a time when people wore hoods instead of hats, and they wore cloaks instead of coats.”
“Like Little Red Riding Hood?” asked Katie.
“Sort of,” answered Dad. “A person like a doctor or lawyer—or whatever profession—wore a certain type and color of hood.”
“Then if you saw someone with a certain kind of hood, you would know what he was?” asked Katie.
“Yes, and that’s where the falsehood comes in,” Dad answered. “Some dishonest people would go to a town where they weren’t known, wear a hood they hadn’t earned, and set up a practice. They were living a lie. They were wearing a false hood.”
Katie nodded. “I can see how the word came to mean a lie,” she said. “I think it’s a good word to use to describe people who pretend to be something they’re not. Some kids are unkind at school but pretend to be Christians on Sunday. It’s like they’re hiding under a false hood.”
“That’s right!” answered Dad. “Be careful always to be honest before God and others.”
“I will,” Katie promised.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you pretending to be something you aren’t? If you feel the need to pretend, ask yourself why. If you’re honest and obedient as God wants you to be, you will not feel the need to hide under a false hood.
TO MEMORIZE:
You have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves.
Psalm 119:118
BE HONEST AND OBEDIENT.
From the book
