Let love be without pretense
Posted On October 23, 2016
Let Love be without dissimulation:
there must be no pretense,deceit, dishonesty, duplicity, lying, guile, subterfuge, feigning etc.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) The act of dissembling; a hiding under a false appearance; concealment by feigning; false pretension; hypocrisy.
Romans 12:9. Berean Study Bible
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
Berean Literal Bible
Let love be unfeigned: abhorring evil, cleaving to good,
New American Standard Bible
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
King James Bible
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
In other words when you claim to love it must be deep, real, lasting, true, honest, without any false, no pretending, no back-biting, no regrets etc.
Can you say with all sincerity that you “love” without dissimulation?? If I were to say about someone “that is my friend, whom I love so much,” can it be said in all sincerity? Or is there something about that person that I find disgusting, and it makes me feel some anger or bitterness? Would I talk about them behind their back concerning what I feel about them?
Showing a good face, and then talking behind someone’s back is an act of dissimulation.
If for any reason I have somewhat against this person, this brings my love into question. As believers let us learn to love without pretending.[faking, acting, put on face].