When teaching kids about hypocrisy, the age-old saying “the pot calling the kettle black” couldn’t be more relevant. Explaining the concept of sinful hypocrisy to children in a relatable and impactful way can be challenging. Yet, it is a vital task for parents and educators alike. In a world where values and ethics constantly evolve, we must equip our children to understand what constitutes hypocrisy and the implications of such behavior. As young minds develop, it’s crucial to instill the fruit of the Spirit’s characteristics in their actions and words. This article will provide a short story to educate children about hypocrisy.

Tea Pot will provide insightful guidance to facilitate meaningful conversations around this topic. By fostering open dialogue, we can empower the next generation to recognize and reject hypocrisy, fostering a society built on God’s Word. Join the Potter’s vessels as we share a story on hypocrisy and shape our future leaders with wisdom and empathy.

What does the pot calling the kettle black mean?

Tea Pot calling the kettle black is an idiom that dates back to the 1600s. The phrase or similar can be found in a 1620 novel titled Don Quixote and another in 1693 titled Some Fruits of Solitude. During that time, most pots and kettles were made of iron and were used over open flames. The kettles or pots would turn black from the fire. This would happen to all vessels. Therefore, the pot calling the kettle black is a statement that explains hypocritically seeing someone else’s fault when we possess the same characteristics ourselves. It is easy for us to see the faults in others and ignore our own. When we do this, we are the teapot calling the kettle black.

A speck in eye log in your own

Likewise, the Bible has its way of speaking against hypocrisy. In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus asks His audience why they look at the speck in another’s eye without first removing the log in their own. First, he explains that someone else’s faults should appear much smaller than ours. A pastor once explained to me that the speck we see in someone else’s eye is most likely the shadow of the log in our own. He even went as far as holding up 2X4 to his eye. He explained that as he looked down the beam, the end of it appeared as a speck in front of someone else. This means we can see our faults projected on others and quickly judge them instead of realizing the wrongdoing lies in us.

Meet Tea Pot and Little Pot

The following is a short story about vessels and a potter. The Little Pot and The Tea Pot are picture books that introduce these characters and provide a backstory.

The Tea Pot Calling the Kettle Black (part 1)

Little Pot had told Tea Pot all about its journey to becoming a fruit pot. Each time Little Pot was given something extraordinary to hold, the potter removed the items and placed them in another vessel. Tea Pot loved hearing Little Pot’s story and could imagine how sad it felt when the other vessels were given the job that Little Pot wanted. However, each time Little Pot shared its feelings, Tea Pot thought, “Little Pot was selfish for not wanting the other vessels to hold what the potter gave it.”

After all, Tea Pot served the other vessels with a delicious tea. It poured the tea into other vessels almost every day. In addition, the potter regularly cleaned its insides so the tea was always fresh and tasty. It never noticed that its bottom was dirty from sitting on the fire daily.

Later, the potter had made a new kettle and was brewing something else. The kettle sat on the fire just as the teapot did. However, the aroma coming from the kettle was much more pungent than any tea. The liquid was dark, earthy, and bold. The potter called this liquid coffee. The kettle poured the coffee into other vessels just as Tea Pot. The potter drank the coffee each morning instead of tea.

Tea Pot Calling the Kettle Black (part 2)

The teapot vessel noticed that the kettle was turning black from the fire. And because it was black and dirty on the outside, Tea Pot assumed it must be dirty on the inside, too. Therefore, Tea Pot shunned the kettle and determined it was unworthy to concoct any drink for the Potter. It wanted to be the only vessel the potter used for brewing liquid. Whenever the teapot thought the potter wasn’t listening, it would tell the kettle how black and dirty it was. Consequently, the kettle felt unclean, and struggled to brew coffee.

The kettle noticed that the teapot was also black on the bottom. However, it thought the teapot better hid the stains from the fire. Therefore, it began to believe just what the teapot said. It felt unworthy and unloved. As a result, it felt like the potter did not love it either.

The all-knowing potter saw what was taking place. He grew angry at Tea Pot. The potter said, “Why do you look at the black soot on the kettle when you are also blackened from the fire?” You are being selfish and not showing the other vessels the love that I have shown you.”

Tea Pot immediately saw that it was the more selfish vessel. It had thought that Little Pot was selfish. It had thought the kettle was selfish. Then, Tea Pot realized that calling the kettle black and ignoring the dirt on itself was wrong. Seeing the other vessel’s faults before its own is sinful. Tea Pot apologized to the potter, Little Pot, and the kettle. They forgave Tea Pot, and the black kettle became a friend.

Growing Love toward Others

The best way to fight a hypocritical spirit is with the Holy Spirit producing His fruit through you. Our Potter wants us all to be vessels that produce love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. That’s why Little Pot will share the seven steps to how the Holy Spirit grows His fruit through you. Additionally, you’ll receive a Fruitful Friday email each week to continue to … “Learn a lot from Little Pot!

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