It seems like nearly every month (maybe even more frequently if we look hard enough), we receive news about some Christian leader who fails morally, gets caught, and is removed from ministry. Whether it’s pastors, professors, performers, or politicians - failure happens.
We see hypocrisy everywhere.
We see it in politics
Politicians being unfaithful in their marriages
passing laws that allow them to avoid taxes or other obligations that the rest of us bear
taking advantage of their position in order to make huge profits
We see it in Social Media
perfect pictures, edited just right to make us look better than we are.
bios that have been made a bit glossy to make our experiences enviable.
We see it in Sports
juicing and human growth hormone and other chemicals designed to give people an advantage
We see it in the workplace
padding resumes
hiding misappropriated funds.
We see it in the church
Sure, there are the ones that we see in the news, but there are also the ones that we see in the mirror. If we look carefully enough, we see the inconsistency between what we present outwardly and who we are inwardly. As I mentioned in the midweek email, I see it in me.
While hypocrisy is ubiquitous, we also have to recognize it’s dangerous.
In the passage that we’re considering today, Jesus makes a very clear warning to his followers:
Luke 12:1 ESV
“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
If you have your bibles, open them to Luke 11:37. We’ll consider a bit of the context for Jesus’ statement here. In doing so, we’ll reflect on the character of hypocrisy, the promise of hypocrisy, and hope for hypocrites.
Luke 11:37–12:3 ESV
While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”
One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.""
So, after engaging with the sick, slanderers, skeptics and a swarm of people, Jesus gets invited by a pharisee to have dinner with him. As we can see in that passage, there are likely several pharisees and scribes or religious lawyers there. Now, incase you’re unfamiliar with Pharisees - these people are religious leaders. They worked hard to uphold traditions in order to keep people from sinning against God. They also worked hard to gain power and influence. But as we can see in this encounter and in what Jesus comments toward them, they missed the point of what it means to truly love and obey God. They seemed to forget why the traditions were put in place and seemed to see the traditions (like ceremonially washing dishes) as an end unto themselves.
The scribes were legal experts. They were essentially biblical scholars who would help people to understand what the law says with some suggestions for how to live out the expectations of Scripture.
As Jesus engages with these religious leaders, He helps us to see…
The character of hypocrisy (11:37-54)
One dictionary defines hypocrisy as “the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.” (Apple dictionary)
In these verses, Jesus makes four accusations against the Pharisees and three against the Lawyers as if to point out their hypocrisy. We will go rather quickly through these woes, reflecting some along the way about where these woes might apply to us. Jesus begins by noting how the Pharisees value…
Show over Substance (39-41)
They are more concerned with the tradition of washing dishes on the outside than they are with washing themselves on the inside. When you really think about it, dishes become the breeding ground for bacteria on the inside - not the outside. Food that goes bad often touches the internal surfaces - not the outside.
When looking at our lives, being clean on the inside where it counts will ensure that “everything is clean.” Where in our own lives are we more concerned with appearances than we are with truly being the people of God?
Secondly, Jesus calls them out for exhibiting…
Legalism over grace and love (42)
They take great pride in giving a tithe of everything - money, time, herbs - and yet they fail to love God or love others the way that God intends. Scripture even says:
Hosea 6:6 NLT
I want you to show love,
not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me
more than I want burnt offerings.
I think for us, this is a place where we have to be careful. We can preach grace, but expect holiness or moralistic adherence.
Where are we more comfortable with performing religious duties than we are with demonstrating genuine love? Where are we more comfortable expecting people to live a Christian lifestyle than we are communicated God’s unconditional love for them?
Thirdly, Jesus calls them out for their…
Focus on titles, honors, and respect of others (Spurgeon) (43)
Have you ever met someone who was overly concerned with how you addressed them? Maybe they want you to know that they are Dr. so and so, or President of XYZ, or Chairwoman of that committee. These Pharisees are overly concerned with how others view them. They want the best seats, the honorifics, the recognition.
Is our service for God compromised by whatever title we may feel we deserve - Pastor, Elder, Deacon, Teacher, Leader…..?
Next, Jesus levies a strong accusation against them, calling their activities…
Destructive (44)
We might even say deadly. Jesus calls the Pharisees “unmarked graves.” His point seems to be that when people follow their teachings, they unwittingly end up unclean and in bondage. It’s as though they have fallen into an open grave with no way out. Their acceptance before God depends fully on their ability to fulfill religious obligations.
I think it’s important here to recognize that hypocrisy in our own lives is dangerous and destructive. Sure, it is that to us, but it is that to others who see it.
Hypocrisy demonstrates a lack of integrity on our part.
It affects other people’s faith. When younger people or newer believers witness the inconsistency in our lives, we undermine what they see a true believer is like. We distort biblical godliness. We may even cause others to sin.
Most importantly, though, we dishonor Jesus. We drag His name through the mud.
I recently listened to the book Ghosted, by Nancy French. She grew up going to church and participating in church activities regularly. One of her youth leaders took advantage of her on multiple occasions. At first she didn’t know what to think of it. They had talked about moral purity, but he forced himself on to her. It took her a while to recognize what had happened, but she had been raped - multiple times by this man - a man she trusted, a man she looked up to, a man who was teaching about God and Scripture. That experience caused her to wander from the faith for a long time. She engaged in other dangerous activities and habits. His actions destroyed her, for a time. By God’s grace she healed from that encounter, is in a vibrant relationship with God, has a faithful and loving husband, and God has gifted her with some good, godly kids.
While this example is extreme, all of our own hypocrisies have destructive outcomes - in the lives of those who are watching, and in our own lives.
So, Jesus levied these four accusations against the Pharisees who were present at this meal. Then, in a rather comical turn, the Scribes or Lawyers state that Jesus is insulting them too! So, in order to be an equal opportunity rebuker, Jesus notes that the Scribes…
Judge others actions and their own intentions (46)
They expect people to do certain things that they themselves are not willing to do. That would be like us inviting someone to come to faith only after they have cleaned up their life - changed habits, gave up addictions, started tithing, attending church weekly, etc.
Jesus calls them…
Complicit in killings and coverups (47-51)
Jesus references the first and the last murders in the Hebrew Bible - Abel (who was killed by his brother Cain in Genesis 4) and Zechariah (which we read about earlier) who was killed in the temple (2 Chron. 24:20-21). Jesus’ point seems to be that these Scribes on one hand honor the graves of those who died for the faith, but would have been the very ones to render a death sentence.
Jesus then tells the Scribes that they…
Hoard knowledge (52)
Rather than making a way for people to have access to God, they become the gate keepers and refuse access.
Before the reformation, some in the church were this way - they chained the bible to the pulpit and read it only in Latin, whether or not the people understood Latin.
Jesus notes some very specific things about these Pharisees and Scribes/Lawyers, but I wonder how often these characteristics of hypocrisy are evidenced in our own lives, in my own life?
Of course, when faced with any sort of accusation like this, we could be prone to…
Defensiveness (53-54)
These Pharisees and Scribes were that way. They refused to hear Jesus’ rebuke and instead looked for ways to catch him - to bring some sort of an accusation against Him.
For us, when we are convicted by the Spirit or rebuked by a brother or sister in Christ for our own hypocrisy, do we respond defensively or humbly?
While Jesus points out the characteristics of hypocrisy in the lives of the Pharisees and Scribes, to his disciples, he reveals…
The promise of hypocrisy (12:1-3)
Let’s look again at the final verses in the passage that we read:
Luke 12:1–3 “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”
Jesus called hypocrisy the leaven of the Pharisees. Just as it takes only a little yeast to leaven a whole loaf of bread, so too, it takes only a little hypocrisy to permeate an entire life.
Have you ever noticed that telling one lie prompts you to tell another, and then another, and then another? In a similar way, covering up or justifying hypocrisy grows - the cover-up becomes all encompassing, until it’s so big that it can’t be covered anymore.
Jesus makes a sort of promise, noting that eventually everything will be revealed - maybe in this life, certainly in the judgment. Revelation talks about the books of our lives being opened at the great white throne judgment.
Revelation 20:11–14 ESV
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
We have to recognize that one day, everyone will give an account of what we have done. There is a sense in which I look on that day with fear and trepidation - even a bit of shame - as the sins I have committed, the hypocrisies that I’ve lived - are revealed.
But there always seems to be a way in which our inconsistencies find us out - even here.
Proverbs 10:9 NLT
People with integrity walk safely,
but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.
I think it’s important to recognize that our call to avoid hypocrisy is not a call to perfection - it’s a call for honesty - with ourselves, with each other, with God. It’s in this that we find…
The hope for hypocrites
There are things in this topic of hypocrisy that have far reaching ramifications. The tentacles of hypocrisy spread into intricate places of our souls. It touches so many things. While this passage is a rebuke for those who live lives of hypocrisy and is a warning to avoid it, a broader reading of scripture reminds us that there is hope. That hope is found first of all…
in the cross of Christ
When Jesus came to earth and took on our flesh, He modeled a perfect life for us. He demonstrated what it means to walk in perfect fellowship with Father. He showed what true love and compassion look like. He exhibited how to live the life that God calls us to live, all the while recognizing that we will never be able to fix ourselves - we will never be able to be 100% perfect or right or holy. So, rather than waiting us to become right, He offered his perfect life in exchange for ours. He took our sin on Himself, taking our punishment, offering eternal life with Him in exchange.
The prophet Isaiah foretold this:
Isaiah 53:4 ESV
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
The Apostle Paul explained this in response to the cross, helping us understand the ramifications of what Christ did:
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
So for those of us who are now in Christ, redeemed by His blood, we have hope, we have assurance, we have life.
Romans 5:1 ESV
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:1 ESV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If you are in Christ, if you’ve repented of your sin, received His forgiveness by faith - your name is written in the book of life. At the final judgment day, yes, the deeds of your life will be considered, but the ledger for the debt of your sin will read PAID IN FULL because of Jesus Christ! Oh, beloved, rest assured in that!
Friend, if you’ve not yet trusted in Christ - know that He came to do what you and I could never do. He took your judgment. Repent, receive His forgiveness, come to faith, receive that assurance that all of your sin has been paid for, all of your hypocrisies have been exposed and atoned.
While we do have assurance and confidence that Christ has covered our sins on the cross, we still get to live out this life. We will get to wrestle with sin - or as the puritan pastors would say - to mortify sin - killing it - including hypocrisy.
Philippians 2:12–13 ESV
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
So, while Christ has paid for our sin, providing ultimate hope, even as we continue to wrestle with our own hypocrisy, we do find hope in the process of our sanctification …
in confession to God
When the Spirit of God brings conviction of sin, confess it to God. Repent or turn away from it. Change habits, delete apps, adjust inputs.
David was a man who experienced great intimacy with God but also experienced the weight of His sin. Psalm 32 describes the reality of our transgression and the beauty and blessing of forgiveness.
Psalm 32:1–7 ESV
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
So, there is hope for hypocrites in the cross of Christ and in confession to God. Finally, we find hope…
in community
Beloved, we’ve talked about this before, we are not alone - you and I are not alone. You have a body of brothers and sisters here who can contend with you, encourage you, pray for you, hold you accountable.
James 5:16 ESV
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Now, I know this is hard. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in Elders or Deacons meetings or Community Group Gatherings, or Men’s breakfasts, or ISI gatherings and have wanted to share or confess - but I fail. Maybe it’s pride. Maybe it’s shame. Maybe it’s hypocrisy.
Matt Chandler - in an interview last year shared a concept he had learned from another author - The King’s Table - when David had all the seats filled around his table - he was successful. When one of the seats was empty - David failed. David’s table included guys like:
Joab - someone to work with; (commander of his army)
Jonathan - someone to love you unconditionally. (friend, soul mate)
Nathan - someone to correct or provide conscience; (the prophet who pointed out his sins with Bathsheba and Uriah)
Joabs and Jonathans are the easy, enjoyable advisors. They are the ones you want to hike with, go to the gym with, conquer the world with, sit around the fire with.
Nathans are difficult and necessary. They love you deeply and will run with you, but will also clear off the mirror in order to help you see the real you. They point out hypocrisy and sin and work the the Spirit of God to bring you back to repentance - urging you on toward spiritual growth. They have your good and God’s glory at heart.
Who is your Joab? Who is your Jonathan? Who is your Nathan?
Closing thoughts
Hypocrisy is ubiquitous and dangerous.
Hypocrisy promises to be exposed.
As hypocrites - we have hope - in Christ, in confession, and in community.
I’d like for us to end in a bit of a different way. We’ll take a few moments to be silent before the Lord - praying and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the hypocrisies of our lives.
As He brings something to your mind - write it down on the paper that’s in your bulletin.
In a few moments, the band will begin playing and we will sing together “Take My Life”. While we’re singing and as a reminder of what Christ has done for you - fold it and bring it to the cross - pin it there.
If you’ve not yet trusted Christ as your Savior, feel free to participate - but let me encourage you to trust in Him.
Let’s go to the Lord.
Benediction:
Questions for reflection and discussion
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 1–12 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Smith, James, and Robert Lee. Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII. Five-volume edition. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971.
Spurgeon, C. H. “Hypocrisy.” In The New Park Street Pulpit Sermons, 5:97–104. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1859.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
