Intro: We have spent the last few months considering times when failure in the eyes of the world, can really be a success in the eyes of God. However, we want to spend the next few weeks looking at snares that lead to failure, even in the lives of those who are otherwise successful. Even Christians trying to do right can fall prey to the snares of the devil. This morning we want to talk about one of his biggest traps. In fact, my guess is that you know someone like this very well. It is my hope, however, that maybe you will look no farther than yourself. For this is not intended to be a series to help you find fault with others, but to help you get the “beam” out of your own eyes.
If you stop to ask anyone for the reasons people don’t go to church, one of the most prominent is “that there are too many hypocrites there.” A man in a carnival sideshow once boasted that he had trained his horse to count. A man yelled out, how many sides to a quarter? The horse stomped out, one, two. Someone else called out, how many bases in baseball? The horse stomped out, one, two, three, four. Someone else yelled, how many hypocrites in the church? And the horse started prancing away on all four feet as fast as he could go.
This morning we want to talk about hypocrisy, and how we can keep from it becoming a snare in our lives. The truth is we are all hypocrites at one time or another. We will all lie at one time or another. And just as we try to be truthful, so we also want to try to be sincere and rid our lives of hypocrisy. God’s word gives us a good picture of what hypocrisy is, and some ways to keep it from being a snare in our life. Shall we pray.
Read Matthew 23: 1-12.
To those in Jesus’ day, a hypocrite was a stage actor, someone who was playing a part. It was someone who was pretending to be someone or something that they really weren’t. As the Pharisees heard Jesus’ condemnation, what they heard him say was that they were not genuine: they were merely playing a role, pretending to be something they really weren’t. This morning, I’d ask you, are you real in your faith and your worship? Or are you merely pretending, putting on a good front for others to see on Sunday mornings? Let’s look at the snare of hypocrisy. It’s a trap that lures many Christians because it has many ways of manifesting itself. Just as a stage actor might play many parts, so also do hypocrites. Let’s talk about the different problems of hypocrisy.
I. The Problem of Presumption - vs. 1-4
In verse 2 we see Jesus saying that the Pharisees were to be respected for the high teaching position they had: they placed themselves in the position of declaring the word of God. In the temple, the Pharisees would declare the word of God: and Jesus said they were to be listened to and followed. But their teaching was not the problem. Rather the problem lay in their actions. There is a peril in authority. Often we think we have arrived spiritually. We feel we know enough to get by. Really the truth is that often we know just enough truth to be dangerous. But hypocrites usually have the right answers; they just don’t follow them in their own life.
Now, hypocrites have a problem when it comes to work. Often they want others to jump through all the right hoops, even they don’t want to jump through one. They tell everything that needs to be done: but they don’t want to do it. As pastor, I never have a problem finding someone to tell me what I should be doing. Someone is always glad to tell me an area where I have failed and where I could do better. The only problem is those same individuals aren’t doing what they want me to do. I’m sure you know someone like this.
That’s one reason why last year when we read through the Bible, I read through it also. I didn’t want to encourage you to do something I was not doing also. In fact, I’m reading through it again this year too. And I would encourage each of you to do the same.
Hypocrites love to presume what people should be doing with their lives. Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, if they really were spiritual, they would . . .” and so the story goes. There are some who like Hollering Hank Williams and country music - some who like Andy Williams and elevator music - some who like the William Tell Overture and classical music. Let’s allow for diversity in the kingdom.
Check yourself this morning -- ask, “Am I a hypocrite? Do I presume to tell people how they should live their Christian life? Yes, we can tell others they should not sin, and neither should we. But let’s be careful when we start saying someone should or shouldn’t wear a certain outfit or go to a certain place. One of my best friends’ father once told me how ashamed he was of me because I had a beard. Let’s not presume to pass judgment on others, telling them what they should do in their own life.
The answer for presumption is to remember that we are all servants. Remember the words of Romans 14? Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. . . . You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
II. The Problem of Pride - vs. 5-12
Hypocrites love to be seen by others. They love to have people recognize them. They are name-droppers. “Well, the other week as I was talking to Billy Graham, . . .” They love to drive nice cars and wear fine clothes. Now there’s nothing wrong with a nice car or nice clothes - but when you have them to impress others, you are a hypocrite. Look at “The Way” and how they take people’s life savings just to build large buildings and make a name for the sect. These are the type of people who always want to make a special entrance at the banquet, they want to make sure everyone sees them. They want to make sure everyone knows they put some large gift in the offering. Better yet, they want a brass plaque in memory of a loved one to honor their donation.
Ask yourself - Am I a hypocrite? Do I struggle with pride? Am I seeking to be seen and recognized and looked up to by others?
The answer to pride is given here by Jesus. Pride is defeated through humility and servanthood. Who wants to be a servant these days? We would all rather be served. Yet Jesus said the greatest was the one who served.
III. The Problem of Put Downs - vs. 13-15
Did you ever know someone that loved to criticize others? Normally someone who criticizes others isn’t prejudicial -- they will criticize friends as quickly as enemies. They loved to find fault with others.
I used to chauffeur a lady around one summer. She had a phrase she loved to used when she talked about someone she was having difficulty with: “Well, I sure hope they get to heaven, but . . . .” We all love to cut down, put down, criticize those who don’t go along with us 100%.
Once again - am I a hypocrite? Do I love to put others down, criticizing them?
The answer to put-downs is found in Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. If we would learn to see others as better than ourselves, we would quickly stop putting them down, for we would realize that when we do, we also are judging ourselves.
IV. The Problem of Phrasing [or problem of presentation] - vs. 16-22
This is an area where we tend to be masters. We can twist a phrase to mean anything we want. If you don’t believe it, just ask our president. He is a master at twisting words and phrases. Anytime we want to do something, we find a way to justify what we want: simply finding a way to keep from calling it a sin.
In Mark 7 Jesus told about the masterful way the Pharisees twisted phrases. “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother,’ and, `Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: `Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
Do we have a double standard? Do we judge others for the same things that we excuse ourselves for doing? At one church where we served, Ronda and I would wonder about people who criticized others for not coming out. Some would say, “why don’t people come out to church on Sunday night?” but they never came on Wednesday. Others would say, “why don’t people come out to church on Wednesday night?” but they never came on Sunday.
Once again - Am I a hypocrite? Do I tend to call my sins problems, quirks, idiosyncrasies - anything but the sins they really are?
The answer for phrasing is Confession. The Bible tells us to confess our faults one to another. When we start confessing sin in specifics - not just generally, “forgive me for all my sins -- when we start naming sin as sin, it will raise our awareness to what sin truly is.
V. The Problem of Priorities - vs. 23-24
This is sort of like the old woman who sat in the front row of the church. She had a problem in that she liked to chew tobacco. The preacher preached against gambling, and she said, “Amen”. He preached against drunkenness, she said, “Amen, that’s good preaching.” He preached against unfaithfulness, and she said “Let ‘em have it!” He preached against chewing tobacco, and she said, “Now he’s stopped preaching and gone to meddling.”
None of us really like to talk about priorities, because we all realize we have a long way to go in setting right priorities. The Pharisees followed the letter of the law. They showed up every Sunday for church. They even had their own special pew. But they missed out on what was really important.
We tend to be hypocrites when we emphasize that which is trivial and forget the most important things.
#Pillars of assembly : Doris & Henry - gas station - going to be late - Missionary convention
Am I a hypocrite in the area of my priorities?
The answer to priorities is to follow the leading of the Spirit. Gal. 5 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit of God will lead us to that which is priority in our lives if we will be sensitive enough to follow his leading.
VI. The Problem of Profession - vs. 25-28
We have a problem when our action doesn’t match our profession. We all know those who are good at talking about the Christian life, yet you know you wouldn’t want to leave your wallet out around them. A salesman asks me what I do -- I say I am a pastor -- “Praise the Lord brother! Amen! Let me show you this model over here. . .”
I had a friend in high school and college - he could shout Amen with the best of them. He had great big wide margin Bibles he carried around. And he got his girlfriend pregnant.
The world is watching our life to see if what is inside us is the same message as that coming from our lips. Once again - Am I a hypocrite?
The answer for the problem of profession is a pure heart. It does not good to try to mandate outward conformance if the heart has not changed. I could take my dog, come his hair, tie a ribbon around his tail, let him outside, and he’s going to eat the bark in my flower beds. Unless something changes from within, change will be meaningless.
That’s why God deals with the heart when he changes us. Ezek. 36 says I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
God wants purity in our lives. And it starts with our hearts. If you have a problem with profession, go to the “heart” of the problem.
VII. The Problem of the Past - vs. 29-36
Did you ever know someone who loved to change the past? The remember the past a little different than it really was. The Pharisees were like this. They quickly acknowledged the sins of the past - yet they were unwilling to see their own sin.
In our day, we see homosexuals who try to condemn child abusers, and set themselves up to be kind, loving, gentle souls just trying to get along in society in loving relationships with one another. The truth is they are sinners! Any practicing homosexual is breaking God’s law. Lev. 20:13- If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. That’s not my word, that’s God’s word.
We see women telling us the sorrow of unwanted children. It is a shame that children have to be born to homes where they are not wanted. No woman should have to sacrifice her liberty and life to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term.
The truth is abortion is murder.
The Pharisees were great at looking at the sins of the past but failing to see the sins of the future. If I asked you about the sins you have committed in your life, most of us would be willing to tell stories about pranks we did in high school. But how many of us would be willing to face up to the sins we committed this week?
Am I a hypocrite? Do I fail to look at my present sinfulness?
The answer to the problem of the past is to acknowledge sin in our lives today. Let’s say like David in Ps. 51 - For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Let’s confess our sins quickly. Let’s see them as an offense to a holy God.
Concl: So, how do we overcome hypocrisy? We’ve talked about each problem and given an answer. Let me suggest a few more ideas. These will all be “C’s”.
Checks - Let’s set up accountability relationships.
Circles of Concern - Let’s let others be involved in our lives. When we need others to be there, we can’t hope they show up. We need to set up the relationships now.
Curbs - let’s set up some safeguards, hedges, rules to follow to keep us from hypocrisy
Confession - admit our sinful behavior; pray about our hypocrisy
Conscientiousness - Do the right thing
Consideration - Think about how others will perceive our actions
The opposite of hypocrisy is sincerity - Paul tells us in Phil 1:10 - that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. Sincerity meant “without wax” in the Latin - the Greek word meant “judged by the light of the sun”. The image was the same. A poor sculptor would fill in mistakes with wax, only to be seen by holding the object to the light of the sun. We are to be sincere.
Let’s determine to be
transparent - let others see us as we really are
genuine - truly care for others and be concerned about them for their sakes
humble - consider others as better than ourselves
If we can do these things, we can avoid the problem of hypocrisy.
