Hypocrisy (2)

Matthew 7:4 ESV

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?

Luke 6:41 ESV

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

1 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Proverbs 26:23–28 ESV

Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Matthew 23:1–3 ESV

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

Romans 16:17–18 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

hypocrites

We have to be concerned about ourselves.

If I were to ask you the question, “Who do you think the biggest hypocrites are?” Politicians, liberals and possibly law enforcement.

But if I ask you the question, “Who do you think is the most detrimental hypocrite?” Religious Person

Political hypocrites only affect temporary situations whereas a religious hypocrite can affect someones eternity!

Hypocrite- This word comes to us from the ancient Greek language. It was used to describe actors in a play. Ancient actors would carry different masks in their hands as they acted. The masks were attached to sticks and could be held before the face as needed. A smiling mask suggested humor, a frowning mask suggested sadness. These actors were called the “hypocritos”. This word means “one who wears a mask”.

We use the word today to refer to people who pretend to be one thing when they are actually something else. People who pretend to be your friend while stabbing you in the back are hypocrites. People who live one way at church and another way at home are hypocrites. People who attempt to do wicked things under the radar while acting like all is well are hypocrites.

The Bible calls hypocrisy a sin. There are two forms hypocrisy can take: that of professing belief in something and then acting in a manner contrary to that belief, and that of looking down on others when we ourselves are flawed.

Hypocrisy is a big word.

We hear it thrown around as - that person is a hypocrite.

The word is describing a person that is creating a public impression that is at odds with their real purposes or motivations.

The origin of the word goes back to the Greek word hypokrites

he Greek word hypokrites, which means “an actor” or “a stage player.” The Greek word itself is a compound noun: it’s made up of two Greek words that literally translate as “an interpreter from underneath.”

This makes more sense when you know that the actors in ancient Greek theater wore large masks to mark which character they were playing, and so they interpreted the story from underneath their masks.

Jesus is warning of the hypocrisy of what the Pharisees were saying an doing.

One example I have shared before is how on the Sabbath, some of the Pharisees would expand the range of their home.

On the Sabbath they had a rule where they were only supposed to travel a set distance.

What some of them would do is to place the food at the edges that distance, and then claim that this now extended the range of their home and thereby they could travel that distance again.

Judging Others 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. 

Now That Being Said

Are you a practicing pretender? A masquerading member? A counterfeit convert?

Jesus confronted the hypocrisy of religious people and rebukes them sharply!

Matthew 23:33 ESV

33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?

If you have been hurt by those who claim Christ, my heart breaks for you!

Exalting Jesus in Matthew The Danger of Damnation in Sincere Religion (Matthew 23)

A. Do we fail to practice what we preach?

B. Are we not content with the approval of God?

C. Do we assert our superiority over others?

D. Are we hypocritically centered on ourselves?

E. Are we hindering people’s salvation?

F. Are we more concerned with biblical minutiae than we are with practical ministry?

G. Are we focused on outward cleanliness instead of inward holiness?

Jesus hates hypocrisy… Jesus says that hypocrisy will send you to hell!

Application Point: Only when we stop pretending the church is perfect can we invite Jesus to conform us more and more to his image.

Christ’s offer of salvation is a personal offer. Christ offers salvation to you personally today. You are not saved because Grandma was saved, you are not saved because you attend a church, you are not saved simply because you said a prayer, got baptized, stopped a sinful habit or some other external act. You are saved simply by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. His sacrifice, His resurrection, Him!

Christ's desire for us however is to live out our personal salvation in the gathering together as a body of believers known as the church. As a group of people who are not yet perfect, still capable of sin, and on the road of sanctification. This does not excuse whatever pain has been perpetrated against you by that person or persons. What I do hope you understand is that you are not alone, Jesus himself does not and did not want that sin to take place and He will punish it. Even so His desire for you is to be an active member in a local body of believers seeking to practice the forgiveness that He has given to you toward others as well as practicing the love one another that he commands.