Introduction

Hello, family! It's a blessing to be with you all today. We're here to talk about something that we all need in our lives - hope. Now, hope can be a tricky thing, can't it? Sometimes it's a beacon in the dark, lighting our way. Other times, it seems to be just out of reach, a mirage in the desert of our lives. And then there are those times when what we thought was hope turns out to be something else entirely.

This reminds me of a quote by Philip Yancey, a Christian author who's written some really thought-provoking books. He once said, "Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse." Isn't that a powerful thought? It suggests that sometimes, we have to step out in faith, even when we can't see the whole picture. That's where true hope comes into play. It's a hope that's grounded in our faith, not in our circumstances.

Let's take a look at the book of Matthew. We're going to focus on chapter 23, verses 27 and 28: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

These verses are a stark reminder of the dangers of false hope, of appearing righteous on the outside while nurturing wickedness within. It's a warning, yes, but it's also an invitation to seek genuine hope, hope that transforms us from the inside out.

True Hope Versus False Hope

When we think about hope, we often think about it as a positive force in our lives. It's something that keeps us going, that propels us forward. But what happens when that hope is misplaced? What happens when we put our hope in things that are not of God, in things that are fleeting and temporary? This is what we refer to as false hope.

False hope can be deceptive. It can appear to be genuine, to be something that is good and beneficial. But in reality, it's a mirage. It's something that can lead us astray, that can pull us away from the path that God has set for us. This is why it's so important to be vigilant, to be discerning. We need to be able to distinguish between true hope and false hope.

The Pharisees were hypocrites. Now, let's take a closer look at the scripture we read earlier. In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the time. He's calling them out for their hypocrisy, for their false righteousness. On the outside, they appear to be righteous, to be following the law. But on the inside, they are full of wickedness.

This is a clear example of false hope. The Pharisees were putting their hope in their own righteousness, in their own ability to follow the law. But this was a false hope. It was not grounded in God, it was not grounded in faith. It was a hope that was based on their own efforts, on their own works. And as a result, it was a hope that was destined to fail.

So, what does true hope look like? True hope is grounded in God. It's a hope that is based on faith, on trust in God. Biblical hope looks at the promises God has made us, trusts them, and lives in light of them. It is because of His faithfulness and His love for us that we have such a solid and sure hope.

This is the kind of hope that can sustain us. This can carry us through the trials and tribulations of life. It's a hope that does not disappoint, that does not fail. Because it's a hope that is grounded in the eternal, in the unchanging, in the steadfast love of God.

Faith is foundational. But how do we cultivate this kind of hope? How do we ensure that our hope is grounded in God and not in the things of this world? This is where the role of faith comes in. Faith is the foundation of hope. It's what allows us to trust in God, to put our hope in Him.

Faith requires us to surrender. Let go of your own understanding and efforts. It requires us to trust in God, to rely on Him. Believing in tough times can be hard, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Because when we put our faith in God, when we put our hope in Him, we are aligning ourselves with His will, with His purposes. And this is when we experience true hope, hope that is grounded in God, hope that does not disappoint.

Understanding Hypocrisy in Hope

In the book of Matthew, we find Jesus speaking directly to the religious leaders of His day, the Pharisees ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO