Looking Out for Spiritual Hypocrisy

I. Introduction

Last weekend the news came out that a well known televangelist had passed away from the Covid-19 virus. It was not altogether unexpected, as he was 89 years old, in the age range of the most susceptibility. But the shocking part was the statement from fellow televangelist, who said, according to the Christian Post, “Televangelist Kenneth Copeland says he believes his friend and fellow televangelist Frederick K.C. Price will recover from a severe COVID-19 infection.

This same evangelist also called for a heat wave in April to kill the coronavirus. Declaring his authority over the weather and his ability to command it, Texas-based prosperity preacher and televangelist Kenneth Copeland called forth a “supernatural heatwave” last Thursday to kill the new coronavirus in New York City and “the rest of the world where it’s needed.”

Speaking on the first day of his Virtual Victory Campaign on Facebook Live, the leader of Kenneth Copeland Ministries called the weather “God’s weapon” and revealed that “we learned … 45 years ago that we have command, authority over the weather.”

He also shared a number of stories of how he commanded tornadoes and other weather events to protect his property before addressing the weather remedy for the new coronavirus, which has infected more than 300,000 people in the U.S. and killed more than 9,600 as of Monday morning, according to Johns Hopkins. Nearly a third of the deaths have been in New York City, which has been described as the epicenter of the outbreak of the virus in the U.S.

“All God needs to do to deliver us is a heatwave, a supernatural heatwave,” Copeland told his audience which included senior members of his ministry.

In December, 2019, a meeting of so called prophets gathered in Dallas to prophesy the reelection of President Trump. Ironically, none of them predicted the pandemic. However, as we all know, this has not happened and furthermore, only a few of them have repented for this false prophecy and their wrong declaration.

This past October, November, a pastor was fired from the Hillsong Church Network in NYC for his multiple affairs. He was a pastor to the celebrities, to Justin Bieber, Kevin Durant, and so on. And yet, despite his lavish lifestyle, his Louis Vitton clothing, he was exposed and removed.

I could go on. A world renowned apologist is exposed as a sexual deviant. On an on the list of those who have been disgraced in the name of Christianity, in the name of Christian leadership would fill more books and volumes than would fill the local library.

But it’s not just headlines that grace our media exposing the faults of church leaders. Every day, every weekend, in churches like ours there are signs of spiritual abuse, spiritual hypocrisy, spiritual wickedness done by those who would proclaim the role of leadership in the church, and instead of drawing people closer to God, they wind up driving men and women far from him because of their hypocrisy.

My point today is this. You need to be aware that those who would lead and guide you in the things of God are fallen human beings just as you are. And you need to be discerning enough to realize and understand that since they are indeed fallen humanity, if they are not careful, they will not only deceive themselves, but you and all who follow them as well.

Jesus knows his time is limited. He knows that the religious leaders are full of fury towards him. He knows that they are plotting his death. And so, rather than seeking to pacify and gain favor with them, he decides to just be honest and upfront. In this chapter we see a scathing indictment of men who professed to be the spiritual leaders, who professed to be the spiritual overseers of the nation of Israel and yet, their lives and actions proved to be totally different than what they taught.

This chapter brings us to understand that the Pharisaic system, like any system that puts its emphasis on rules and regulations, all too easily degenerated into the observance of requirements that were doubtless intended to help people along the road to godliness but that could become ends in themselves. When this happened, there was the appearance of godliness, but not the reality; the correct performance of outward rites and the firm hold on orthodox teaching became ends in themselves, and genuine piety suffered. There is a danger in the whole Pharisaic method.

We are not today under the Pharisaic rule. And yet, as I have alluded, we are all too susceptible to abuse by those who profess the mantle of Christian leadership. And my challenge to you is 2 fold and it follows the advice of the Apostle Paul.

1 Timothy 4:16 ESV

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

We must watch our own life and teaching closely, as well as the lives of those we trust to lead us spiritually.

We get into the text and notice first of all,

I. The Predicament Hypocritical Spiritual Leaders Present. v.1-3

Jesus starts off teaching the crowds and the disciples and he states these words.

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.

The predicament or dilemma that abusive spiritual leaders present is that they often teach truth. They often teach the Bible. This is what Jesus is alluding to here in these verses. He states that the Scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat.

The idea of the seat of Moses was not a particular chair or piece of furniture that Jesus was referring to. Rather it seems to be referring to the authority that the Pharisees and scribes held in the synagogue. Moses was the original recipient of the law of God and these men were teachers, the ones who taught the Mosaic law and they did so “in the seat of Moses.”

And what they taught was mainly true. It lined up with the Torah. But the problem was that they did not leave what they taught. Jesus says it clearly, they preach, but do not practice. They tell you one thing, and yet do the exact opposite.

This is a common practice. We see this in regards to our government. How many times has a politician promoted and pushed a law and yet have done the exact opposite? The covid lockdowns have exposed so many for their duplicity, such as the mayor of Austin Texas telling residents of his city to stay at home while he vacationed in Mexico.

And what do you do? The law is good. You should observe the speed limit, you should pay taxes, but it is nonetheless frustrating when political officials refuse to abide by their standards.

More so spiritually. Abusive spiritual leaders are notorious for preaching the Bible and not living the Bible. I remember we were in Richlands, VA at a camp and heard the story of a man who was converted watching Jimmy Swaggart. If you don’t know, Jimmy Swaggart was a televangelist who was well known in the 80’s and yet was exposed for extramarital relationships. The A/G, the denomination he was a part of tried to discipline him, but rather than be subject to their discipline, he left the denomination and refused to repent. And yet this man was converted. This happens all the time.

And this leaves us in a predicament. We see not only this predicament, but also

II. The Problem Hypocritical Spiritual Leaders have. v.4-7

The predicament they place us in and then the problem they have. Hypocritical spiritual leaders have a serious problem which Jesus outlines. What is this problem? First off, hypocritical leaders like impose rules and regulations that they will not assist you with.

Matthew 23:4 ESV

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.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke 1) Warning the Crowds and the Disciples (23:1–12)

Verse 4 speaks of the leaders’ putting “heavy loads on men’s shoulders”—laying down irksome rules—and then refusing “to lift a finger” to help. This does not mean they were unwilling to obey burdensome rules themselves (contra Josef Schmid, in loc.; Bornkamm, Tradition, p. 24; Schweizer, Matthew; Sand, p. 89) but that they refused to help those who collapsed under their rules (Manson, Sayings, p. 101; McNeile; Filson; Garland, p. 51). This is the natural interpretation of kinēsai (“to move”, cf. BAGD, s.v.) and fits the allusion to 11:28–30. Thus the Pharisees are unlike Jesus, whose burden is light and who promises rest. But this means that 23:4 does more than illustrate v. 3b: it shows how the Pharisees are by their teaching doing more harm than good.

The commentator of course is referring back to Jesus’ statements in

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

This is the heart of the Gospel. Come to Jesus and He will give you rest. Come to Him and find what your heart desires. And yet, if we are not careful, as a church, we can look at people and say you need to straighten up and live your lives right and yet do nothing to help those who need the hope of the Gospel.

yes, it is true that we believe that sexual relationships belong exclusively in a marriage relationship between a man and a woman. We will not apologize for that belief. But what good is it to stand on that belief and refuse to help the single mother struggling to raise her child on her own?

James 1:27 ESV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

It’s not just that they impose stringent regulations and rules without any help or assistance, but also they do everything they do for show.

Look at verses 5-7.

Matthew 23:5–7 ESV

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.

Jesus flat out condemns the Pharisees and scribes. He states that all they do is simply for show, to be seen by other people. Look at their actions.

They make their phylacteries broad and fringes long. Prayer boxes that Jewish men wear on their foreheads or left forearms as a devotional aid during statutory times for prayer.

Meaning and Etymology

Phylacteries contain copies of the four biblical passages upon which their usage is based: Exod 13:9, 16; Deut 6:8; 11:18. They serve as a ritual reminder of the covenantal commitment to keep the Torah of Moses and to thank God for His many blessings (1QS 10.10; Segal, 160–64).

And of course, instead of wearing the simple phylactery that others would wear, the Pharisees and Scribes would make it inordinately large and noticeable.

FRINGE Tassels hanging from each of the four corners of typical Israelite garments. Functioned as reminders of the commandments of Yahweh, and were especially significant on priestly vestments (Deut 22:12; Num 15:37–41; Matt 9:20; 14:36; 23:5).

They love the place of honor at the feasts. Jesus explicitly warned against this in

Luke 14:7–8 ESV

Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him,

They also love to be greeted in the market place. Call me rabbi. Look at my prestigious title.

The Gospel according to Matthew 2. Jesus’ Denunciation of the Pharisees, 23:1–39

To be called “Rabbi” in public meant that there was open recognition of the status of the man so honored; he was regarded as an outstanding teacher of the law.

This is not unlike hypocritical spiritual leaders in our days. Men and women who love to be called apostle, prophet, reverend doctor, who love the honor that is bestowed upon them, usually by other charlatans just like themselves.

In speaking of the church I mentioned in NYC, a former worker, volunteer at the church wrote this on her blog about them. “It thrives on inequity. Imbalances of power, access and opportunity. Hillsong is all about being blessed and anointed as evidenced by being prosperous and powerful. So the people at the top are afforded levels of privilege, power and self-importance that keep them too comfortable to ask questions, or to fully engage with the questions of others, about anything that could jeopardize their place in the hierarchy. Goal number one is making sure the church machine has an unlimited supply of souls to grind by perverting the concepts of serving and of honor to take advantage of everyone involved, but especially volunteers. Constantly requiring them to rise above standards that their leaders weren’t required to meet, in exchange for paltry benefits their leaders would never settle for. How many choir members were told we couldn’t afford to give them bottles of water, while the weekly green room spread for the pastoral staff was lush? And then times that inequity by about four thousand for the difference between the meals provided for volunteers for Hillsong Conference and those for the platform guests/VIP visitors. Oof. It was unreal. And unchristlike. Because people can find a million ways to justify those decisions, but they can’t pretend it’s what Jesus would do. https://janithecat.wordpress.com/2020/11/15/hillsong-nyc-dishonorable-mentions/

The truth is, there are a lot of spiritual hypocrites who teach and share elements of truth, and yet lead so many astray, and harm so many from their duplicity, so we have to ask the question, what do we do to spot hypocrisy in the lives of others and avoid it in our own lives. This question Jesus answers in these last 5 verses.

III. The Proposal to Combat Spiritual Hypocrisy. v. 8-12

We see the dangers of spiritual hypocrisy, so what should we do to combat, to fight against spiritual hypocrisy in our own lives.

A. Commit to treating every person as equal in the sight of God. v.8-10

Notice what Jesus says here.

Matthew 23:8–10 ESV

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.

Do you see those words there? Don’t desire to be called rabbi or father or teacrher. Instead recognize that you are all brothers and sisters in Christ. WE are not superior, you are not superior, we are one, we are all equal.

This is what Paul teaches us.

Colossians 3:11 ESV

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Galatians 3:28 ESV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

As a church, we denounce racism as a sin. While we recognize and honor the differences in men and women and follow the biblical teaching on gender roles, we denounce the idea that men are superior to women in any way.

And we emphatically denounce the idea that some Christians, some believers, some people are better off than others because of their gifting or role in the church. We are equal as brothers and sisters in the Lord.

We avoid spiritual hypocrisy by seeing each other as equal and

II. Commit to a life of service. v.11

Matthew 23:11 ESV

The greatest among you shall be your servant.

I watched the service of the televangelist and the preacher had the helper servant bring his bible to the pulpit and laid it down for him and I couldn’t help but thinking, what? I have some big study Bibles, but unless I become paralyzed, I think I can handle them.

Look at what Jesus did in John 13.

John 13:3–5 ESV

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

We combat spiritual hypocrisy by treating everyone as equal, by committing to a life of service, and by

III. Commit to a life of humility. v.12

Matthew 23:12 ESV

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Again, the lesson of Jesus comes to mind.

Philippians 2:5–6 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Philippians 2:7–8 ESV

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

As C.S. Lewis said, true humility is “not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.”