“Jesus on Hypocrisy”

As we continue to look at “The Eight Days that Changed the World” we find Jesus dealing with hypocrisy. The literal meaning of the word “hypocrite” is “one who plays a role”. It describes the actor in Greek dramas who played multiple roles wearing different masks. You probably know people who say that they don’t attend church because of the hypocrites who are members there. Surprise! Jesus also doesn’t like hypocrites, but that didn’t keep Him from going to synagogue. I heard someone say “If a hypocrite stands between you and God that means they are closer to God than you are.”

Examination: (Why?)

1. Warning! (Matt 23:1-12)

Mt 23:1-12 “1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people. 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

In the first seven verses Jesus described hypocrisy. Anyone who says one thing and does another is a hypocrite. Anyone who desires recognition and commendation for their service is a hypocrite. Anyone who seeks the praise of men and women is a hypocrite. Anyone who loves to be addressed by an exalted title is a hypocrite.

Michael Sprague wrote this week on Link’din “I try to urge people to not let the sins of others keep them from Jesus. In fact, I tell people if you hate hypocrisy, you and Jesus should be good friends. No one stood up to hypocrisy more than Jesus and it ended up getting him killed. The word Hypocrite is used 17 times in the New Testament. Every time it is used by Jesus. He is the enemy of dead religion and his words to hypocritical religious leaders were stinging in calling them whitewashed tombs, blind guides, and snakes.”

A hypocrite is exalting him or her self, and Jesus warned that those who do that will be humbled. I’ve often said that you can choose to humble yourself or be humiliated by God.

Sprague went on to say “I often say, “Imagine someone stole a stack of your business cards and went on an all-night rampage breaking into cars and businesses, destroying property and wreaking havoc. Imagine they left one of your business cards at scene of each of their crimes. The next morning the police show up at your door and accuse you of these criminal deeds. What would you say? ‘Do not accuse me of things that were done in my name that I had nothing to do with!’ I think that’s what Jesus would say, “Don’t reject me for things that some do in my name”.

2. Woes! (Matt 23:13-32)

What follows can only be described as a rant from Jesus.

Mt 23:13-32 “13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.

15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’ 17 Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’ 19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. 21 The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by by the temple takes an oath by it and by Him who dwells in it. And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by Him who sits on it.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law---justice, mercy and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean outside the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You are like white-washed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood. So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up the measure of your ancestors’ sins!”

Seven times Jesus pronounces “woe” upon those who are hypocrites. I don’t think He did this in a gentle, quiet voice. I think He thundered. If you find yourself somewhere in these descriptions, TREMBLE because you are hearing from an angry Jesus.

3. Jesus’ Contrasting Statements (Matt 23:33-39)

Mt 23:33-39 “33 “Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell? 34 This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues (BTW you can flog them with your words) and pursue from town to town. 35 So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.”

Do you want to know how despicable Jesus feels toward hypocrites? How about His calling them snakes, a brood of vipers who are condemned to hell? Listen! If there is one person who misses Eternal Life with Christ because of you, then YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE and the condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees is upon YOU!

But then suddenly Jesus’ tone becomes gentle as He wails,

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!””

He could as well be saying “America, America, who disparages the righteous and exalts those who live and teach things that are against My Word. Time and again I wanted to gather you under My protective wings, and you just wouldn’t repent. Now your house (nation) will be left empty, forgotten in scripture. But one day I’m coming again, and you will see Me in My glory. Repent before it is too late!”

Application: (How does this apply to my life? What should I do?)

If you find yourself in the description of hypocrites that Jesus gave, REPENT, beg for His mercy, SURRENDER to Him now.

If there are some who don’t come to church or follow Christ because of you, make sure that this week you go to them, ask their forgiveness and beg them to surrender to Christ.