WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF HYPOCRISY?
BIBLE READING: Matthew 5:21-26
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. (Matthew 5:23-24)
HYPOCRISY, GOD’S WORD ON
WHAT DOES GOD THINK ABOUT HYPOCRISY?
Psalm 50:16-17 . . . Recite my laws no longer, and don’t pretend that you obey me. For you refuse my discipline and treat my laws like trash.
God is angry when evil people pretend to be good.
Proverbs 28:9 . . . The prayers of a person who ignores the law are despised.
Isaiah 1:15 . . . From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims.
Amos 5:21 . . . I hate all your show and pretense-the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
God hates religious hypocrisy.
Isaiah 29:13 . . . The Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human laws learned by rote.”
God sees through people’s hypocrisy.
HOW SHOULD I RESPOND WHEN OTHERS ARE HYPOCRITICAL?
Psalm 26:4 . . . I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites.
Don’t spend lots of time with obviously hypocritical people because it is so easy to pick up their habits.
Galatians 2:11 . . . When Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong.
When our brothers in Christ are acting hypocritically, sometimes a public confrontation is necessary.
HOW DO I AVOID BEING A HYPOCRITE?
Matthew 5:23-24 . . . If you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
We should take care of any wrong in our life before worshiping God publicly.
James 3:17 . . . The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. . . . It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere.
We need God’s Spirit to give us true sincerity.
James 4:8 . . . Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites.
Drawing near to God will help us get rid of hypocrisy in our lives.
PROMISE FROM GOD:
Ezekiel 14:10 . . . False prophets and hypocrites-evil people who claim to want my advice-will all be punished for their sins.
HYPOCRISY CAN LEAD TO SELF-DECEPTION.
Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with God. If we have a problem or grievance with a friend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate others. This kind of hypocrisy is pure self-deception. Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with God.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF HYPOCRISY?
BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:1-4
KEY BIBLE VERSE: When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do-blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. (Matthew 6:2)
HYPOCRISY MEANS GIVING OUT OF WRONG MOTIVES.
The term hypocrites, as used here, describes people who do good acts for appearances only-not out of compassion or other good motives. Their actions may be good, but their motives are hollow. These empty acts are their only reward, but God will reward those who are sincere in their faith.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 23:1-39
KEY BIBLE VERSE: How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you won’t let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won’t go in yourselves. (Matthew 23:13)
HYPOCRISY IS KNOWING THE TRUTH BUT NOT OBEYING IT.
Jesus repeatedly exposed the hypocritical attitudes of the religious leaders. They knew the Scriptures but did not live by them. They didn’t care about being holy-just looking holy in order to receive the people’s admiration and praise. Today, like the Pharisees, many people who know the Bible do not let it change their lives. They say they follow Jesus, but they don’t live by his standards of love. People who live this way are hypocrites. We must make sure that our actions match our beliefs.
HYPOCRISY IS LIVING A SELF-SERVING LIFE.
People desire positions of leadership not only in business but also in the church. It is dangerous when love for the position grows stronger than loyalty to God. This is what happened to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Jesus is not against all leadership-we need Christian leaders-but against leadership that serves itself rather than others.
HYPOCRISY IS CLAIMING CHRIST AS LORD WITHOUT FOLLOWING HIM.
Jesus challenged society’s norms. To him, greatness comes from serving-giving of yourself to help others. Service keeps us aware of others’ needs, and it stops us from focusing only on ourself. Jesus came as a servant. What kind of greatness do you seek?
HYPOCRISY REDUCES FAITH TO RIGID RULES.
Being a religious leader in Jerusalem was very different from being a pastor in a secular society today. Israel’s history, culture, and daily life centered around its relationship with God. The religious leaders were the best known, most powerful, and most respected of all leaders. Jesus made these stinging accusations because the leaders’ hunger for more power, money, and status had made them lose sight of God, and their blindness was spreading to the whole nation.
HYPOCRISY IS OUTER CONFORMITY WITHOUT INNER REALITY.
It’s possible to obey the details of the laws but still be disobedient in our general behavior. For example, we could be very precise and faithful about giving 10 percent of our money to God, but refuse to give one minute of our time in helping others. Tithing is important, but giving a tithe does not exempt us from fulfilling God’s other directives.
The Pharisees strained their water so they wouldn’t accidentally swallow a gnat-an unclean insect, according to the law. Meticulous about the details of ceremonial cleanliness, they nevertheless had lost their perspective on inner purity. Ceremonially clean on the outside, they had corrupt hearts.
Jesus condemned the Pharisees and religious leaders for outwardly appearing saintly and holy but inwardly remaining full of corruption and greed. Living our Christianity merely as a show for others is like washing a cup on the outside only. When we are clean on the inside, our cleanliness on the outside won’t be a sham.