The Yeasty Beasty Series

TRANSITION & PURPOSE

I was thinking about all the ways that Jesus was warning the disciples not to be like the hypocritical Pharisees and I came up with several different forms of their hypocrisy that Jesus might have further warned the disciples about and is a further warning we should take to heart as well.

It is my prayer for us that we…

… be authentic believers of Jesus and bear the name of Christ in an honest manner

… say one thing and do that one thing

… match on the inside and outside with our faith

What are some forms of hypocrisy that Jesus could have warned them about?

THREE FORMS OF THE PHARISEE’S ISSUE

First, we have the Outward Display vs. Inner Reality. This is what my brain calls “classic hypocrisy.” This occurs when individuals or groups of people outwardly display religious acts or adherence to religious activities like attending services, prayer or charity work, but do not genuinely believe in much. Outwardly they appear to practice these principles in their personal lives, but in reality, inside they do not.

Jesus further describes this of the Pharisees and others in Matthew 23:27:

READ Matthew 23:27 (ESV)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.”

A great example of this in the New Testament is Judas Iscariot. We read about Judas Iscariot in the Gospels because he was one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus. He walked and talked with Jesus. He saw and heard everything. He saw the miracles. He participated in Jesus’ ministry and yet the Truth of what Jesus was doing did not sink into his inner life. John 12 describes for us:

READ John 12:4-6 (ESV)

“But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples (he who was about to betray Him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

We find in Judas someone who appeared on the outside to be a devoted follower of Jesus, but on the inside was motivated by money and other desires. Judas used to steal from the fund for Jesus and His ministry… that is pretty bold and sneaky and sinful. On the outside he was devoted to Jesus to the extent that no one but Jesus knew Judas would betray Him. Judas never acted out. Jesus never treated Him different. Until Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, the other disciples did not know the extent of his inner reality.

APPLICATION

What about us? Do we have issues with looking one way on the outside and have a different reality on the inside?

> Are we motivated to come to church to worship or for something else?

> Do we do the bare minimum for God and are thankful for His grace to let us slide?

> Do we seek to die to ourselves and follow Jesus or is “self” really the master of our lives?

> Are we a Christian on Sundays, but not on Monday-Saturday?