Behind The Mask

What does a mask do?

It hinders our voice and vision

A proper mask can protect you from certain dangers

What does a mask NOT do?

Most masks will not protect you or others from a virus

A spiritual mask will not protect you from the outcome of sin

Reasons why we wear a mask

To hide our true identity

To protect ourselves

To protect others

What is it called when we live behind a mask?

Hypocrisy

Romans 12:9 NASB95

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Jesus gave examples

Matthew 15:7–8 NASB95

7 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.

Matthew 23:25–28 NASB95

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 6:1–2 NASB95

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Matthew 6:5–6 NASB95

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

So important for leaders and teachers to have transparent lives

James 3:1 NASB95

1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 NASB95

5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—

What about us as Christians?

1 Peter 2:1–3 NASB95

1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

Philippians 2:14–15 NASB95

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

James 1:22 NASB95

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

John 15:8 NASB95

8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Romans 12:2 NASB95

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Luke 12:2–3 NASB95

2 “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 3 “Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Do you hide behind a spiritual mask?