HOLY HYPOCRITES!!!

WHAT IS HYPOCRISY?

Hypocrisy is an open display of religion without genuine commitment.  A religious hypocrisy is one who puts on an outward show of religion but has no inner desire to serve God, or one who meticulously keeps the letter of the law (known as legalism) but shows little concern with the true intent of the law, love for God and others. Jesus graphically describes hypocrites as “whitewashed tombs” (Matt. 23:27) This sin is present in Isaiah’s days, at the time of Jesus and in the early church, is a sign of the last days and will severely be punished. God’s children must rid themselves of hypocrisy and replace it with genuine love and sincere faith; their faith must express itself in works.  Of particular concern to apostle James is hypocrisy (a double-mindedness). He addresses people who ask for many things from the Lord but who do not ask in faith, who hear but do not do according to the word, who keeps one law but not another, who say they have faith but do not live changed lives. Who with the same tongue both praise God and curse fellow humans, who want to be friends with God and the world at the same time. A candid look deep within ourselves will reveal our own struggles with hypocrisy- and an open ear to the counsel of James will call us to renewed efforts to genuine Christian living (James 3: 8-9) “But no man can tame the tongue. It is unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.”

HOLY HYPOCRISY IN ISAIAH’S TIME- Isaiah 65:2- 5

In this chapter Isaiah the prophet pictures the eternal God standing with outstretched hands, pleading His people to forsake their evil ways and return to Him “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts. A people who provoke Me to anger  continually to My face; who sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense on  alters of brick; who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs; who eats swine’s flesh and the broth abominable things is in their vessels. Who say keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smokes in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.”  In a  similar passage God asks why Israel spent their  money for what was not bread, and their wages on fleeting things that could never satisfy (v. 55:2). He invites them to take freely of His living water, joyous win, and nourishing bread and milk (v. 55:1).  All this may well be called the “incredible invitation.” Only the sovereign God could host such a feast. But all this is to no avail. Israel refuses and is indicted for the hypocrisy perceived in their idol worship (vs. 3, 7), consulting with the dead, and eating the forbidden swine’s flesh, and all the while professing to be unapproachable holy.  Christians should remain in a true state of humility before God and man, thus being protected from the pitfalls of hypocrisy. As (Matt. 5:8) states, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

GOD AND HUMAN HYPOCRISY

How Does God React to Hypocrisy?

1.       Of course God is hungry with hypocrites people: (Luke 13: 14-15) When Jesus loosed the woman with infirmity, who had suffered for eighteen years, the rulers of the synagogue was not happy with Him “But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on a Sabbath day; and He said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”  The Lord then answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?

2.       God has no reward for the hypocrites:  Beloved, did you know showing off and drawing attention of others in pride is hypocrisy? (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16) “Therefore when you do a charitable, to not sound a prophet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and d in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward; “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward; “Moreover when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward.”

3.       God warns such acts of hypocrisy:  (Matt. 23:13-16, 23-29) “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those  who are entering to go in.” Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widow’s houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you receive greater condemnation.  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’  “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without living the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self- indulgence. Blind Pharisee; first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to you, scribe and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.  Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, “If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not be partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.”

4.       There is punishment in store for the hypocrites: (Luke 20:46:47) “ Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in the long robes, love greetings in the market places, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

5.       God condemns hypocrites to hell: (Matt. 23:33) “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”

WHAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR HIS PEOPLE?

1.       God wants us to avoid hypocrites: (2 Tim. 3:5) “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

2.       God warns us against hypocrisy: (1Pet. 2:1) “Therefore laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. “

3.       God wants us to express our faith by works: (Jas. 2:14-17) “What does it profit my brethren, if someone says he has faith and does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (1 Jn. 3:17-19) “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but indeed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”

4.       God wants us to show genuine love: (Rom. 12:9) “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” (1 Pet. 1:22) “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

5.       God wants us to exercise a sincere faith: (1 Tim. 1:5) “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.” (2 Tim. 1:5) “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, who dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and I am persuaded is in you also.”

Abba Father, I exalt You, and give You all the praise; may every spirit of hypocrisy be terminated and uprooted out of our midst as Christians. In the Loving name of our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Grace to you and Favor from our God and Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen and Amen and Amen.”