Rapture Ready--Living With Authentic Faith Matthew 23 Series

2025.09.14 Sermon. RAPTURE READY_LIVING WITH AUTHENTIC FAITH_WOE TO HYPOCRISY, YES TO HUMILITY

Matthew 23

William Akehurst, HSWC

Scripture Readings

Matthew 23:1-39, 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:22, Philippians 2:3, Luke 12:1, John 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:5, Micah 6:8, Matthew 15:8, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 3:1-3, 2 Peter 3:9, John 14:3,

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 23:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Matthew 23:39

BIG IDEA: To be rapture ready, we must move from empty religion to authentic relationship with CHRIST. JESUS condemns hypocrisy and calls us to authentic faith expressed in humility, obedience, and servant leadership. Outward show can’t replace inward surrender.

Be watchful. Be faithful. Be ready.

INTRODUCTION

Authority. Authenticity. Integrity.

These are qualities we admire in leaders. When someone’s words and actions align, we call them trustworthy. But when there’s a disconnect - when they say one thing but live another - trust is broken.

JESUS confronted this very issue with the religious leaders of His day. In Matthew 23, He delivered some of His strongest words - not to sinners in the streets - but to scribes and Pharisees, the religious elite who claimed to represent GOD.

He exposed hypocrisy, warned of judgment, and called His people back to humility and genuine devotion.

The scribes and Pharisees had religion, but they did not have relationship with GOD. They looked righteous outwardly but were empty inwardly.

Today, many are in the same position. They attend church, know the words, carry a Bible, and even do “religious” things; but their hearts are far from GOD. JESUS calls us to more than outward religion. He calls us to readiness. If we are to be rapture ready, we must live with genuine faith, humility, and obedience.

Here’s the connection to us: if hypocrisy blinded the Pharisees to their Messiah, it can also blind us from being ready for His return.

JESUS is coming again. The question is: Will He find us faithful, watching and ready - or playing church and unprepared?

KEY POINT: Rapture readiness requires more than outward religion; it demands an authentic heart of faith, obedience, and watchfulness so that when CHRIST returns, we are found faithful and not exposed as hypocrites.

MATTHEW 23:1-39

I. THE WARNING AGAINST HYPOCRITICAL LEADERS

Matthew 23:1-12

Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

The Danger of Hypocrisy (1-12)

1 Then JESUS spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the CHRIST, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the CHRIST. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

JESUS begins by warning the crowds:

“They say, and do not do” (v. 3).

• They spoke the law but did not live it.

• They laid heavy burdens on others (v. 4).

• They loved titles, recognition, and honor (vv. 5–7).

JESUS flips it all:

“He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (v. 11-12)

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES:

• 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of GODliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

• James 1:22 “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

• Philippians 2:3 “In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

• Luke 12:1 “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

LESSON: Hypocrisy is deadly. It deceives others, but most of all it deceives ourselves.

It’s easy to point fingers at the Pharisees, but what about us? Do we ever say but not do? Do we look for recognition more than service?

ILLUSTRATION:

A father told his son, “Do as I say, not as I do.” But children don’t learn by instruction alone; they imitate what they see. So it is with spiritual leadership. People follow example more than words.