KINGDOM LIVING
The Stain of Hypocrisy
Matthew 23:1-12
Jerry A Collins
SCC
v What are the dangers of hypocrisy?
v What characterizes one as being a hypocrite?
v What are the consequences of hypocrisy?
I
want to remember Barney Onkala. A man you never knew
and most likely would have overlooked in any average crowd. Barney never sought
recognition. He was the guy who drove the church bus on early Sunday mornings
even in the dead of winter to pick up kids and families in the outskirts so
they could be in a church service and then drive them home afterwards. He was
the guy who volunteered for the dirty jobs and was always available when a
crisis required someone to do something. He was a valuable asset for the
WARN OTHERS ABOUT HYPOCRISY 1-11
Jesus
speaks to the crowd and disciples about the scribes and Pharisees. There are
two things addressed about them.
1. If your leaders teach you the
scripture, do what they say vs 2-3a. Here we learn they have seated themselves in the chair of Moses in vs
2. That is, they are teachers of the Law. So leaders do have the authority
to tell you what the Bible says but not more than the Bible says or something
else than the Bible. These religious leaders authority was limited to what was
communicated in the Law of Moses. Leaders do not have the right to violate what
the Scripture says or add to it. Today in churches, Pastors and Elders can usually
be thought to have authority over other matters as well and have the right to
impose upon us what our convictions should be or decisions we should make or
spiritual protocol we should follow. I do not have to follow any man-made rules
or additions to please God but I must follow everyone one of God’s. So be
taught the Word.
2. If your leaders teach and do what
is contrary to Scripture then refuse it vs 3b-7. There are two reasons why we do not do according to
their deeds: (1) They say things and do not do them vs 3-4.
They are hypocrites. They cannot be
trusted or followed. How would you know what was right or wrong with such a
duplicitous example? They lack sympathy are unloving and uncaring vs 4. The heavy loads
tied up are the religious rules and rituals. Piled on men’s shoulders they
were unbearable and impossible to carry. If you failed to keep them you were
doomed—chided and rebuked by the leaders these loads only added the burden of
guilt to an already wearisome regimen. There is no grace or rest as Jesus had
promised if you came to Him Mt 11:28-30. Beaten up and bruised you could only
try harder not to fail. (2) They do their
deeds to be noticed by men vs 5-7. Pleasing God is not in the picture. Only that which
would advance one’s standing and foster the admiration
of people. Jesus lists ways these leaders sought to be noticed by others in vss 5-7.
*They
broaden their phylacteries—small square boxes of leather with copies of OT
passages (Ex 13:1-10;
*They
lengthen their tassels—(Num
*Love
places of public honor—whether in secular or religious circles—banquets and synagogues.
*Titles
and recognition vs 7—marketplace greetings and
scholarly recognition.
3. Leaders must be servants and
leadership positions used as opportunities to serve others 8-11. So Jesus warns us that His followers must not have
the attitude of these hypocritical leaders. First, do not use titles of pride
which exalt yourself—avoid titles 8-10. Instead, we
have a brotherly relationship to one another vs 8. We
are family and the dynamics are much different (But do not be called; and do
not call; and do not be called). We are no in business together so stop
relating to each other that way. Second, greatness and honor are based in being
a servant vs 11-12. This is
opposite of the world’s standards for recognition. The Pharisees who exalted
themselves would be humbled—Jesus followers by humbling themselves would one
day be exalted, remembered, and honored vs 12. Pride
assumes value independent from God so it is always evil in the Bible. So we
must warn people about the dangers of hypocrisy just as Jesus did.
HYPOCRISY WILL ONLYBRING YOU GOD’S JUDGMENT 12-39
Since
hypocrisy is a dangerous
way to live, expect God to judge it. Why is it dangerous? Jesus lists several
ways it causes harm.
1. It prevents people from entering
God’s Kingdom 13. Their antagonism
toward Jesus turned people away from Him. They placed a stumbling block in the
path of the people and were culpable. Following the regulations does not change
anyone’s heart and leaves people in their sin. It would be like putting
programs today over the teaching of God’s Word.
2. It produces inconsistencies in
one’s life 14. You can make long prayers
to impress people but also oppress the widows you should have been helping. Oppressing
the widows house is saying they took their money and more of it but did nothing
for them. So money is placed over compassion.
3. It converts people to legalism and
disciples them to be like them or worse 15. They will actively pursue anyone they can convert to legalism and make
these new converts doubly hellish and doubly damned. Hypocrisy does not make
you better off but worse off-eternally worse off.
4. It perverts the truth of God 16-22. Here he calls them blind guides not hypocrites emphasizing they were ignorant of the
truth even though they of al men should have known it. They developed a double
standard for swearing oaths which standards did not obligate them to keep these oaths (Gold
and
5. It inverts divine
priorities by majoring on minor mechanical things and neglecting major
spiritual things 23-24. The insignificant replaces the essential. Painstakingly
about formalities but unmoved by dishonesty, cruelty, greed, selfish.
6. It emphasizes
anything to make you look better to others while neglecting what is right
morally 25-26. Robbery
is fulfilling your profit motive at the expense of others. Self-indulgence is
living in luxury. Jesus says first clean the inside so the outside can be
clean.
7. It appears that
you are godly but in reality you are contaminated 27-28. It looks like one is righteous but
inside are full of sin. In the previous it was how
they sin against other people. Here is how you are sinning against God.
Hypocrisy is no way to have a relationship with God.
8. It cannot
recognize a messenger of God who does not promote their hypocrisy 29-36. If you are not from our group you
cannot be from God—so they killed the prophets even tho
they said otherwise—they are plotting even now to kill Jesus and they will do
the same to the apostles. Hypocrisy cannot tolerate the truth. Even tho Jesus wept over