Hypocrisy     

Dear Brethren,

Jesus said unto [His disciples], Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”  (Matthew 16:6)  “Then understood the [disciples] how that He [Jesus] bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”  (Matthew 16:12)  The word Pharisee is a lot like the word Saint.  It means separated from the rest.  The Pharisees considered themselves to be a notch above everyone else – more holy and more righteous in their keeping of the law.  "...Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."  (Luke 12:1)

The Pharisees and Sadducees knew the Old Testament well, but they did not live according to the will of God.  Their doctrinal sin went far beyond their over-emphasis on prayer shawls, ritualistic washings, or their misunderstanding of the resurrections and angels.  The Pharisees would never consider that they were not perfectly on track.  Jesus called them hypocrites over a dozen times in the Book of Matthew alone.

In Greek theatre a “hypocrite” employed two faces – comedy and tragedy.  Hypocrisy then is being two-faced, and maintaining a double standard.  A hypocrite acts a feigned part, with duplicity, that is – having it both ways.  These are some of the common traits of a hypocrite:  disingenuous, pretentious, insincere, untruthful, deceitful, devious, dishonest – these are tools of Satan that divide the brethren.  Anything other than a straightforward, unfeigned, sincere, real, genuine, frank, heartfelt, truthful and honest discourse is unacceptable.

In the face of so much recent church division and scattering, the ministry should be humbly willing to closely examine their doctrine and motivations.  In almost every case their written doctrine on paper is very nearly perfect – it is the actual practice of that doctrine that must be considered in the light of how Christ would have us live our lives.  Please distinguish between the doctrinal code of beliefs – on one hand – and the performance of doctrine in a person’s life.  Too many people in God’s church think that if they do not eat and dress like Pharisees – they are avoiding what Jesus warned against.  "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."  (Matthew 15:8)

As a pastor of the flock of God, I have a responsibility to guard Christ's sheep and to warn them whenever I see danger looming.  It was Jesus who warned us over and over of ministers who preach one way and act another.  He wasn't speaking primarily of Protestant and Catholic ministers out in the world – those men obviously do not know the Truth.  Jesus was warning us of men who would endanger brethren within the Church of God.  Therefore, I must speak out plainly.  If Jesus warned the disciples to take heed and beware – how much more do Christ’s words apply to us in these last days?  Do we believe the Scripture, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears,”?  (2 Timothy 4:3)  This is exactly what we are seeing today.

Today’s ministers must also heed Christ’s words to take heed and beware.  After all, their role as Church leaders places them in an equivalent position as that of the Pharisees and Sadducees of His day.  After all, being a minister is no guarantee of immunity from error.  Church history is replete with examples of ministers having gone doctrinally astray – having deceived themselves and those who looked to them for guidance. 

The entire Church ministry should realize their susceptibility to error and temptation – just as others are vulnerable.  As a warning to us, we should note that the Pharisees and the Sadducees were wholly incapable of recognizing their own pharisaical approach.  They relished recognition of their status and position.  They could not even consider that they were in any way deficient.  The very word "Pharisaical," has come into common usage – because of the glaring deficiencies in their conduct.  Do the self-righteous realize that they are self-righteous?  Why couldn't the Pharisees see their self-righteousness?  What can we learn from the lessons of the Pharisees?  Is it possible that, we today, exhibit some of the same weaknesses as the Pharisees of Jesus Christ's day?

The Pharisees were a very powerful force to contend with.  Notice the response of even the chief rulers because of their fear of the control wielded by the Pharisees:  "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him [Jesus]; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue."  (John 12:42)  Do we sometimes neglect to do the right thing in order that we may remain comfortable?  Or, worse yet, do we lack the ability to see where we are obviously coming short of God's expectations - making it impossible to recognize when we are wrong?

"[Jesus] spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others."  (Luke 18:9)  Let's not assume that the Pharisaical characteristics were only an exclusively first century problem.  What does it mean to "trust in ourselves?"  These words of Christ are especially important for the Children of God in this end time. 

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Sermon:  "Hypocrisy"

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