Sermons on Religious Hypocrisy:

Prodigal Sons Series

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Mar 22, 2010

Message about the two sons who needed the Lord. How we relate to each.

Note: I used Preachers Sermon and Outline Bible on Luke for Notes, also parts from The Heart Beat of God Dr. Marty Baker The Prodigal Sons Theme: Show how many are like these in this story and how to get out. Text: Luke 15:11-32 I want you if you would to turn with me to the book of Luke chapter ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Church Of God

The Wage Agreement PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 2, 2023

To explore the parable of the workers in the vineyard, emphasizing the boundless nature of God's grace, the fairness of His promises, and the need for humility instead of entitlement.

Hello, friends. I'm glad to see you all here today. We're going to explore a passage today that's got a lot to teach us about how we view God's grace, His promises, and our own sense of entitlement. It's a parable that Jesus shared with His disciples, and it's found in Matthew 20:1-20. I'll read it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-20

Topics: Religious Entitlement

The Wage Agreement PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 2, 2023

To explore the parable of the workers in the vineyard, emphasizing the boundless nature of God's grace, the fairness of His promises, and the need for humility instead of entitlement.

Hello, friends. I'm glad to see you all here today. We're going to explore a passage today that's got a lot to teach us about how we view God's grace, His promises, and our own sense of entitlement. It's a parable that Jesus shared with His disciples, and it's found in Matthew 20:1-20. I'll read it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-20

Topics: Religious Entitlement

When No One Is Watching: The Secret Life Of A True Disciple - Matthew 6:3 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 5, 2026

In Matthew 6, Jesus exposes the difference between religious performance and authentic discipleship. He confronts the human tendency to do good things for human applause rather than for God’s glory.

When No One Is Watching: The Secret Life of a True Disciple - Matthew 6:3 (NLT) Introduction: The Audience of One There is something in the human heart that longs to be noticed. We like our efforts recognised. We appreciate when people say, “Well done.” In the modern world, this desire has been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:3-4, Matthew 6:1, Matthew 5:16, 1 Samuel 16:7, Hebrews 6:10, Philippians 2:6-8, Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Matthew 6:6, Romans 10:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Do You Know God? Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Sep 10, 2007

The contrast between God’s love for us and the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. a grave warning against syncretism and coming judgment.

Hosea 3.1-4.12 How well do you know God? I remember seeing a programme on television once where an old man through tear stained eyes spoke of his love for his wife. What became apparent over time was that she had left him on many occasions and led a quite decadent and immoral life. Yet each time ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Treasuring The Master Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Oct 7, 2025

Treasuring the Master means trusting him with everything, even when what you have seems small.

Good morning. Please open your Bibles to Mark chapter 12. How do you eat an Oreo cookie? There are three classic approaches. One is to just bite right into it — top wafer, creamy middle, bottom wafer — all in one go. Raise your hand if you’re a biter. The other is the “twist and lick” ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Heart Of Religion

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Aug 19, 2021

Religious traditions and rules can be harmful, or they can provide a framework for a heart transformed. The heart is transformed by the Holy Spirit.

THE HEART OF RELIGION—Mark 7:1-23 If you would ask 100 people, maybe on a street corner of a university or in your neighborhood, “What do you think about religion?” What would you hear? Some people would politely say, “It’s not bad to be religious, if you are into that.” Some might be glad to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23, Ezekiel 11:19-20, John 7:38-39, Proverbs 4:23, Ezekiel 36:26-27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Wheat And The Tares; Hypocrisy And Strength Through Humility.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jul 23, 2017

The parable of the wheat and the tares is not all about hypocrisy; it is also a gospel reading of atonement, full of strength through humility.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 20th July 2014 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries). (This is a modification of a previous sermon for a larger congregation). Today's readings: Isaiah 44:6-8, Psalm 139: 1-11, 22-23, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Episcopal

Jesus Deals With Hypocrisy, Covetousness, Worry, Alertness Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 23, 2017

A large crowd had got together to hear Christ preach. The scribes and Pharisees were there, but they were looking for something that they could accuse him of. But the people, who were not prejudice against Him and jealous, still admired him...

Judea Jesus Deals With Hypocrisy, Covetousness, Worry... (Micah 7:6) Luke 12:1-59 A large crowd had got together to hear Christ preach. The scribes and Pharisees were there, but they were looking for something that they could accuse him of. But the people, who were not prejudice against Him and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:1-59

Denomination: Baptist

Wrong About Authority

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 14, 2024

When Jesus was challenged to name His authority to teach, he exposed His interlocutors as incapable of assessing His answer even were He to deign give it.

“When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus answered them, ‘I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-27

Denomination: Baptist

Real-Igion

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Feb 21, 2012

In today’s passage, James wants to keep us from the deception that being religious is merely going through a set of rituals and motions. James doesn’t want us to be deceived into thinking the more I exemplify religious behavior the more spiritual I am. Le

REALIGION James 1:26-27 INTRODUCTION: Preventing deception is a major theme for James (1:1:16, 22, 26). In today’s passage, James wants to keep us from the deception that being religious is merely going through a set of rituals and motions. James doesn’t want us to be deceived into ...read more

Scripture: James 1:26-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Very Religious Yet Very Lost!

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Aug 28, 2004

Ardent religious activity and a high and lofty intellect fall far short of the righteousness God requires.

VERY RELIGIOUS YET VERY LOST! 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34

Denomination: Baptist

Even The Religious Person Cannot Escape

Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000

EVEN THE MOST RELIGIOUS PERSON (DEVOUT JEW) CANNOT ESCAPE GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT--TRUE SPIRITUALITY IS MUCH MORE THAN POSSESSING RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES AND PRACTICING RELIGIOUS RITUALS 1.

EVEN THE MOST RELIGIOUS PERSON (DEVOUT JEW) CANNOT ESCAPE GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT--TRUE SPIRITUALITY IS MUCH MORE THAN POSSESSING RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES AND PRACTICING RELIGIOUS RITUALS 1. True Spirituality is much more than Possessing Religious Privileges (:17-24) a. Religious Privileges can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bad Calls From Religious Umpires

Contributed by Gary Washburn on Jul 11, 2002

When an umpire makes a bad call our sense of fairness has been violated. Sometimes we scream at God, "bad call" or "not fair God!" This attitude reveals some ugly things about us.

Bad calls from religious umpires Romans 2:1-4 Intro: Ever seen umpire make a bad call? Crowd boo’s and blood pressure and anger rises. Our sense of fairness has been violated and we are ready to fight when it comes to fairness. We hear of a serial killer getting caught, convicted, then life in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Wearing Religious Masks Part 1 Series

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 12, 2002

Bitterness can become a mask that is woren in the church.

Part #1 of 2. WEARING RELIGIOUS MASKS By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I ponder: what do I do when I am hurt? How can I handle injustice? How do you handle hurt? I must learn to trust God, God turns messes into messages. God can turn great test into great testimonies. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:4, Genesis 50:19-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God