HYPOCRITE
INTRODUCTION
A. The charge, hypocrite strikes fear into the hearts of conscientious Christians.
B. While not denying that there are hypocrites among us, we need to remember the old saying, “When you
point your finger at others, there are three fingers pointing back at you.”
B. Originally, the word hypocrite had no bad connotation, but simply referred to an actor who wore a mask—
a performer.
I. CHARACTERISTICS OF HYPOCRITES
A. They like photo-opts:
1. Giving to be seen (Matt 6:1-4)
2. Praying to be seen (Matt 6:5)
3. Fasting to be seen (Matt 6:16-17)
B. They are often self-appointed watchdogs of orthodoxy:
1. They had seated themselves in Moses’ seat (Matt 23:2, NASB))
2. They excluded true believers—the pure in spirit (Matt 5:3; 23:13)
C. They are superficially clean (Matt 23:25-27)
1. Washing the outside of the cup: External rules-based righteousness.
2. Decorating the tombs, while manifesting the same murderous spirit as did their spiritual forefathers
(Acts 7:51-53).
D. They are devious in their actions (Matt 23:15-22)
II. THE REWARD FOR HYPOCRITES
A. They perform to be seen and they have their reward: the praise and approval of others.
B. When Jesus pronounced these seven woes, he was not simply referring to the judgment at the last day,
but describing a spiritual state in which moral and spiritual rottenness would grow worse (2 Tim 3:12-
13).
III. AVOIDING THE SUPERCILIOUS JUDGMENTS
A. Supercilious people feel themselves superior to others and are able to see little specks in the eyes of
others, while ignoring the logs in their own eye (Lk 18:19; Matt 7:3-4).
B. Two examples will suffice:
1. One preacher called everyone who did not attend three services a week “hypocrites.”
a. First, he was making a law where God has not made one.
b. Second, he failed to understand the nature of good soil. Jesus said that some brought forth 100
bushels and some only 30 (Matt 13:8)
c. Third, his arrogant judgment ignored the word of God concerning the obligation of the strong
(he surely considered himself to be in this category) to the weak (Jude vv.22-23).
2. The leadership in one church (the elders and the preacher) tolerated no questioning of their
decisions—decisions which they had made without any input from the people. If they became aware
of any dissatisfaction, they summed the person and gave them a warning. A second warning
resulted in their being asked to leave.
a. Even if we assumed the elders and preacher were always right, they failed to follow the example
of Christ (Heb 5:1-3).
b. They were acting as do all dictators (John 9:22;12:42).
CONCLUSION
A. Those who try, and fail are not hypocrites (Rom 7:15-18).
B. Hypocrites are those who pretend to be what they never intend to become.
C. There can be no greater conclusion to our lesson than the one Jesus gave: “Whoever exalts himself will
be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt 23:12).
