Matthew 23:1-12

RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITE VIDEO

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. 'What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!', he said to himself. 

As he continued walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes. Turning to look, he saw a 7 foot grizzly charging towards him. 

He ran as fast as he could up the path. Looking over his shoulder he saw that the bear was closing in on him. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. 

He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear raising his paw to take a swipe at him.

At that instant the atheist cried out: 'Oh my God!...'

Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent.

It was then that a bright light shone upon the man and a voice came out of the sky saying:

'You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to a cosmic accident.  Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?'

The atheist looked directly into the light.

'It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps, could you make the BEAR a Christian?'

'Very well, 'said the voice. The light went out, and the sounds of the forest resumed.📷

And then the bear lowered his paw, bowed his head and spoke: 'Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive and for which I am truly thankful, Amen.'

Introduction

Hypocrisy- we are all guilty of it.

Webster defines hypocrisy as:

“a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not : behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel;especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion; ”

Webster adds:

“The word hypocrite ultimately came into English from the 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.” That bizarre compound 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.

The Greek word took on an extended meaning to refer to any person who was wearing a figurative mask and pretending to be someone or something they were not.”

So when we say we believe the teachings of Jesus but then act in ways that clearly contradict those beliefs we are a hypocrite.

Jesus had dealings with the most poverty stricken to the most influential leaders.

One aspect he seriously rebuked was hypocrisy among the religious leaders of his day and the Pharisee’s.

Why would Jesus make such a big deal out of hypocrisy?

I think Jesus makes a distinction between being a hypocrite and being a sinner

Mark Driscoll writes, “There is a vital distinction between a hypocrite and a sinner. One puts on a mask and pretends to be what they are not. The other peels off the mask and strives to be more than they are. Most of us are just plain old sinners making the most of God’s grace to grow to be more like Jesus.”

Jesus’ disdain for hypocrisy is rooted in that the leaders and the Pharisee’s were pretending to be something they were not.

They pretended to know God, to be humble, compassionate, loving and forgiving just as Jesus but in reality they were:

Hypocrital

Indifferent

Proud

Many of us have been witness to acts of hypocrisy- Jesus did not give a “pass” to hypocritical leaders.

Jesus confronted the hypocrisy of his day and demanded better from those who follow him.

This morning we will study hypocrisy and how Jesus dealt with hpocritical leaders.

And we will look at his instructions to his disciples on how to avoid pride and hypocrisy in our lives today.

It is never too late to stop practicing hypocrisy and it is never too soon to put off the mask hiding who we ought to be.

I. THE PHARISEES—vv. 1–7

II. THE PROBLEMS—vv. 8–13

Expository Outlines from Matthew 13. Religious or Righteous? (Matthew 23:1–24)

THE PROBLEMS—vv. 8–13

Expository Outlines from Matthew 13. Religious or Righteous? (Matthew 23:1–24)

THE PHARISEES—vv. 1–7