Hypocrisy: Religion without Gospel PART #1
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Welcome
We are going to be looking at today.
Go ahead and turn there… if you don’t have a Bible, there should be one in front of you. You can keep that if you don’t own a Bible.
What it the point of the church? This is a question I get a lot… Where are we headed, what is our mission?
And although that’s a good question, it’s fairly simple.
The church has gathered together for 2,000 years to accomplish a couple things: REMEMBER & REPENT:
In our culture of consumerism and entertainment and start-ups… I think we can look at the church and expect some sort of grandiose plan.
But what the church is supposed to do is provide a space for REMEMBERING & REPENTING.
What are we doing when we partake of communion, hear the preaching of God’s Word, singing songs of words found in scripture, reading scriptural passages, etc? WE ARE REHEARSING THE GOSPEL STORY —> WE ARE REMEMBERING WHAT IS TRUE AND WHAT IS GOOD!
Then, as a response to that: WE REPENT. We turn from our error and sin and we look to Jesus.
This is the primary aim of the gathered people of God.
Let’s not make it something it isn’t. It truly is that straightforward. And we need to constantly remember and to constantly repent!
Today, Jesus confronts leaders who forgot the TRUTH & failed to REPENT… and guess what, the results were tragic.
They took their religion seriously, but void of the GOSPEL.
It’s so easy for us to fall into this error. It’s so easy to make Christianity into something it isn’t.
If you’re able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.
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.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues
and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?
And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’
You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.
And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
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.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues
and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
So there’s a lot going on here and the first thing you probably notice is the fact that Jesus is just giving it to the scribes and the Pharisees… if you’re new, these are the religious leaders of the community (within Jerusalem)…
The people Jesus is criticizing are very influential within this community. They are the ones responsible with teaching the Old Testament to the people.
Jesus argues that they have become hypocrites… it makes it plain right up front:
so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
matthew 23:
“They preach, but do not practice.” This is the essence of hypocrisy…
Big Idea of this passage is really verse 12: WHOEVER EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
The pride of the scribes and the Pharisees. (vs. 1-12)
Who your true authority is where
Christ exalting rather than self exalting. (vs. 1-7)
matthew 23:4-7
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues
and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
I think this really cuts to the core of Jesus’ problem with the religious leaders… they are full fo themselves.
Their religiosity has not produced humility but pride.
They think they are better than they are.
And this is extremely concerning to Jesus!
Tying heavy burdens
All these extrabiblical rules have been added to the scriptures and had become a great burden for the people
All the while, the religious leaders loved to follow the rules so they looked good… they were completely full of themselves and their good deeds.
they loved having the title
They loved having the best seat in the house
Somehow, they mistakenly began to receive the honor praise rather than showering God with the honor and praise.
Their power and influence had gotten to them and it had distorted their faith!
Pointing to the savior rather than trying to be the savior. (8-12)
Jesus reminds the people who their true authority is where to look for their ultimate hope!
And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
MATTHEW 23:
Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
The greatest among you shall be your servant.
What Jesus is communicating is that these earthly leaders aren’t to be in a place where they are receiving all the glory — they are to be pointing people to the one who receives the glory!
Christian leaders aren’t to try and be saviors, but rather to point people to the savior.
I know this probably sounds so straightforward… you might even be thinking, “duh, why is this an issue...”
But unfortunately, it often is.
Influence, power, authority, so on can corrupt someone’s character… and we can forget who we really are...
And so a biblical theology is aimed at GOD!
SO ask yourself… what do you want most?
Especially if you consider yourself a Christian, “what do you consider most?”
Do you have a God-centered theology?
Our call is to make much of God!
Jesus declares four woes upon the scribes and Pharisees. (vs. 13-24)
Woe 1: You shut the door of heaven in people’s faces. (vs. 13)
Woe 1 (vs. 13)
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
We first need to remember Jesus isn’t just trying to humiliate the leaders.
The ESV SB says:
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 23
The woes are a mixture of condemnation, regret, and sorrow. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees are false leaders who have drawn the people away from the kingdom of heaven instead of toward it.
So this response is mixed with sorrow.
Because the first WOE or caution is an acknowledgement that the religious leaders are doing the exact opposite of what their aim is...
Instead of drawing people near to God, they are pushing people away from God.
Woe 2: You make children of hell. (vs. 15)
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
Woe 2 (vs. 15)
Since your ministry is not aimed towards God, your ministry is done in vain!
It’s sad and heavy accusation!
Jesus continues to articulate the reality that their teaching has a destructive end!
Woe 3: You focus on superficiality rather than on what is important. (vs. 16-18)
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?
And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’
They were focusing so much on the little details that they missed the point of the their faith!
Their obedience was meant to be a means to an end...
Meaning what: meaning… the point of their religion was to enjoy a life-giving relationship with God not to just adhere to rules!
They were focused more on the rules than they were on God!
Woe 3 (vs. 16-18)
Woe 4: You neglect the weightier matters of the law. (vs. 23)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Woe 4 (vs. 23)
“You make sure to give the right amount of your stuff to the church, but you forgot to be just, merciful, and faithful!”
“Your so focused on the rules, that you’ve forgot to love!”
“So focused on the rules that you forgot: to be patient, humble, gracious, forgiving… so on.”
Big Idea of this passage is really verse 12: WHOEVER EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.
Big Idea of this passage is really verse 12: WHOEVER EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
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APPLICATION:
If you’re new to the idea of Christianity:
Sometimes Christians are accused of being hypocritical… and that’s true.
Because it’s true of all of us. We all say one thing and struggle to do it at times.
So let’s start by admitting we’re all in the same situation. We’re all hypocrites.
Christianity is more than rules and limits.
The rules, when properly understood are actually more like a treasure map… God made the world, we screwed it up...
And so we try to make sense of life, but often just make matters worse.
The rules given by God are really a map to treasure!
It’s as if God sent us a treasure map that says, “if you follow this you will experience peace, love, joy, and hope!”
God does not constrict us and doesn’t desire to rob us of happiness! Following God is really the only way to true joy and happiness!
Maybe no one has ever shared that vision with you —> but life with God (and God’s people) really is the good life.
Is it perfect, NO (Because we live in a broken world).
But it’s the best it can get in this world!
If you’ve been around Christianity for quite some time:
Learn from this rebuke from Jesus in .
We are to be Christ exalting rather than self exalting!
We are to point people to the savior (Jesus) rather than trying to be people’s savior!
And all of that starts with recognizing our need for God’s patience and grace —> we must receive it if we’re ever going to be able to extend it to others!
[IMAGE OF TIM KELLER’S INSTAGRAM IMAGE ABOUT HUMILITY]
COMMUNITY GROUP REFLECTION:
COMMUNION:
L: In the night in which he was betrayed, Our lord Jesus took bread,He gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.Do this for the remembrance of me.
L: Again, after supper,He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying; this cup is The new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.Do this for the remembrance of me. Silent Reflection – to prepare our hearts toCome to the Lords table
L: Jesus' death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.
C: We rejoice that You have died, have risen, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.
L: With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.
C: We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.
L: If you believe Jesus died to forgive you your sins you are welcome to come,
L: Come for all is ready
BENEDICTION:
May you find rest and comfort in the Glory of God, in His promises to us, and in the Glory of Christ, our Savior. Walk now in that rest, and in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.