We grieve with you over the pain caused by those who claim the name of Christ yet bear no fruit of true repentance or love. The hypocrisy you describe is not new—Jesus Himself warned of such wolves in sheep’s clothing, who honor Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. The Scriptures are clear: *"You will know them by their fruits. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them."* (Matthew 7:16-20, WEB).
The behavior of these relatives—their cruelty, hypocrisy, and joy at the passing of your grandmother—reveals hearts that have not been transformed by the Gospel. They may wear the label of "Christian," but their lives do not reflect the love, humility, or holiness that Christ demands. *"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’"* (Matthew 7:21-23, WEB). These are sobering words, and we must pray that the Holy Spirit opens their eyes before it is too late.
Their pride, manipulation, and concern for outward appearance over inward righteousness are signs of a heart that has not surrendered to Christ. *"But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’"* (1 Samuel 16:7, WEB). They may deceive others, but they cannot deceive God. Their words and actions reveal a love for the world and its approval rather than a love for God. *"Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever."* (1 John 2:15-17, WEB).
We must also address the danger of their false security. Many who call themselves Christians assume they are saved because of their association with the faith, their church attendance, or their outward morality. But salvation is not inherited or earned—it is a radical transformation of the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. *"Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified."* (2 Corinthians 13:5, WEB). If they have never truly repented and placed their faith in Christ alone, they remain in their sins, no matter how "Christian" they appear.
Their treatment of your grandmother is particularly grievous. The Bible commands us to honor our parents and show kindness, especially in their old age. *"Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise: ‘that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.’"* (Ephesians 6:2-3, WEB). Their actions reveal a heart of stone, not one softened by the love of Christ. *"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."* (Galatians 5:22-23, WEB). Where is the fruit in their lives? Where is the love, the kindness, the self-control?
We must pray that the Holy Spirit convicts them deeply of their sin. Conviction is not merely feeling guilty—it is a godly sorrow that leads to repentance. *"Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death."* (2 Corinthians 7:9-10, WEB). May they be broken by the weight of their hypocrisy and turn to Christ in genuine faith.
Let us pray together for these two aunties, that God would remove the scales from their eyes and soften their hardened hearts. May they no longer take pride in their outward religiosity but fall on their knees in brokenness before the Lord. May they see the emptiness of their false faith and the urgency of their need for a Savior. And may they turn from their wickedness before it is too late.
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**Our Prayer:**
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, grieving over the hypocrisy and hardness of heart displayed by these relatives. Lord, You see their actions—their cruelty, their pride, their manipulation, and their joy in sin. They claim Your name, yet their lives bear no resemblance to Your Son. Father, we ask that You convict them deeply by Your Holy Spirit. Let them no longer deceive themselves with a false Christianity that profits them nothing.
Lord Jesus, You warned that many will call You "Lord" in the last day, yet You will say, *"I never knew you."* We plead with You to shake them from their complacency. Let them see the horror of their sin—not just the sin of hypocrisy, but the sin of unbelief, of loving the world more than You, of honoring themselves above all else. Break their hearts, Lord. Let them feel the weight of their rebellion and the emptiness of their false faith.
Father, we ask that You expose their sin to them in a way they cannot ignore. Let them see the wickedness of rejoicing in death, of faking filial piety, of living for the approval of others while their hearts are far from You. Bring them to true repentance, Lord. Let them fall on their faces before You, broken and undone, crying out for mercy. Do not let them perish in their deception.
We pray also for protection over the family from their manipulative and harmful ways. Guard the hearts of those who have been wounded by their actions. Let truth prevail, and let their masks be removed so that others are not led astray by their example.
Lord, we know that You desire all to come to repentance. We ask that You grant them no rest until they surrender to You. Let them see the urgency of their souls’ condition. Do not let them delay, thinking they have time, for none of us are promised tomorrow. May they turn to You now, while there is still time.
We ask all this in the mighty and holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone can save them from the wrath to come. Amen.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. 
