Why is the Church Full of Hypocrites?
Part 3 of the "Questions" message series
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. – Matthew 23:23-28 (NASB)
11 Teach me Your way, Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. 12 I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forever. 13 For Your graciousness toward me is great, And You have saved my soul from the depths of Sheol. – Psalm 86:11-13 (NASB)
The BIG Idea:
If the Church is supposed to be a place of love, trust, and acceptance, why don’t we feel comfortable sharing our struggles or ask others in the congregation for help? Hypocrisy is the result of a divided heart. The antidote for hypocrisy is the pursuit of personal and corporate holiness. We create a safe environment for people to share vulnerably by removing our masks to reveal our true selves, confessing our hypocritical or judgmental ways to God, sharing our struggles with others, and seeking reconciliation where possible and when appropriate. Human leaders are fallible, but God is NOT fallible!
The Question – “Why is the Church full of hypocrites?”
“Hypocrite: The man who murdered his parents, and then pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.” – Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Hypocrite = “Someone who acts differently than his or her stated beliefs.” (Sam Rainer)
“HYPOCRITE” – In the Greek it is “hupokrites,” which means a “play actor”; someone who hides behind a mask. (hupo – “under”/ krino – “to judge”)
ILLUSTRATION: Jesus and His childhood in Sepphoris of ancient Galilee (4 miles from Nazareth)
6 out of 10 “Millennials” (Born 1977-1995) have dropped out of the North American Church due to the claim of “hypocrisy.” (Barna Research)
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. – I Peter 2:1-3 (NASB)
There is a difference between a Christian struggling with sin and a hypocrite.
ILLUSTRATION: The couple from a small town who went to New York City.
It is exhausting to live a two-faced life.
It is damaging to live a two-faced life.
The standard we hold for ourselves vs. the standard we hold for others.
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits. – Matthew 7:15-20 (NASB)
We will know “false prophets and teachers” by their fruit.
We can aid others by recognizing their sinful actions. (I Corinthians 5 & Acts 26:20)
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. – Matthew 13:43 (NASB)
Human leaders are fallible, but God is NOT fallible!
Hypocrisy is the result of a divided heart.
11 Teach me Your way, Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. 12 I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forever. 13 For Your graciousness toward me is great, And You have saved my soul from the depths of Sheol. – Psalm 86:11-13 (NASB)
What is the answer to hypocrisy? The pursuit of holiness.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB)
ILLUSTRATION: Lessons from a wheat farmer about wheat and weeds
Questions for Reflection
Who is a hypocrite as defined by the teachings of Jesus?
Why don’t people feel comfortable sharing their struggles in a Church setting when it is supposed to be a place of love, safety, and refuge?
Why do we find it difficult to be authentic and vulnerable with those who are in Church with us? What stops us from sharing in an environment that is supposed to promote love, grace, trust, and acceptance for one another?
How does our choosing to be open, honest, and vulnerable with your struggles make us more relatable to others?
Have you ever found someone in the Church to be judgmental? If so, why did you feel judged? What did you do when you experienced that judgment?
When have you performed a religious deed to receive your own recognition and praise, rather than recognizing and glorifying God for it?
Is there hypocrisy in my life toward others?
Is there hypocrisy in my life toward myself?
Is there hypocrisy in my life toward God?
What are steps we may take to increase vulnerability and decrease hypocrisy in our lives? What positive impacts could an increased vulnerability bring to our Church?
11 Teach me Your way, Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. 12 I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forever. 13 For Your graciousness toward me is great, And You have saved my soul from the depths of Sheol. – Psalm 86:11-13 (NASB)
The BIG Idea:
If the Church is supposed to be a place of love, trust, and acceptance, why don’t we feel comfortable sharing our struggles or ask others in the congregation for help? Hypocrisy is the result of a divided heart. The antidote for hypocrisy is the pursuit of personal and corporate holiness. We create a safe environment for people to share vulnerably by removing our masks to reveal our true selves, confessing our hypocritical or judgmental ways to God, sharing our struggles with others, and seeking reconciliation where possible and when appropriate. Human leaders are fallible, but God is NOT fallible!
The Question – “Why is the Church full of hypocrites?”
“Hypocrite: The man who murdered his parents, and then pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.” – Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Hypocrite = “Someone who acts differently than his or her stated beliefs.” (Sam Rainer)
“HYPOCRITE” – In the Greek it is “hupokrites,” which means a “play actor”; someone who hides behind a mask. (hupo – “under”/ krino – “to judge”)
ILLUSTRATION: Jesus and His childhood in Sepphoris of ancient Galilee (4 miles from Nazareth)
6 out of 10 “Millennials” (Born 1977-1995) have dropped out of the North American Church due to the claim of “hypocrisy.” (Barna Research)
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. – I Peter 2:1-3 (NASB)
There is a difference between a Christian struggling with sin and a hypocrite.
- A follower of Jesus struggling with sin approaches God saying, “God, this is a weakness in my life, and I really need the help of the Holy Spirit to deal with it.”
- God welcomes this prayer of repentance and promises to help!
- The hypocrite doesn’t really struggle to overcome sin.
- The hypocrite is one trying to deceive, pretending to be different than he or she really is. There is NO REPENTANCE.
ILLUSTRATION: The couple from a small town who went to New York City.
It is exhausting to live a two-faced life.
It is damaging to live a two-faced life.
- Hypocrisy toward others.
The standard we hold for ourselves vs. the standard we hold for others.
- As followers of Jesus, we are not to judge a person’s salvation.
- As followers of Jesus, we are not to judge a person’s motives.
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits. – Matthew 7:15-20 (NASB)
We will know “false prophets and teachers” by their fruit.
We can aid others by recognizing their sinful actions. (I Corinthians 5 & Acts 26:20)
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. – Matthew 13:43 (NASB)
- Hypocrisy toward self.
- There is a contradiction by what we say, think, believe, and what we do. (Acts 10 & Galatians 2)
- Hypocrisy toward God.
- There is a contradiction between what we say is right and wrong and what God says is right and wrong. (When humankind sets itself above God’s standard.)
Human leaders are fallible, but God is NOT fallible!
Hypocrisy is the result of a divided heart.
11 Teach me Your way, Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. 12 I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forever. 13 For Your graciousness toward me is great, And You have saved my soul from the depths of Sheol. – Psalm 86:11-13 (NASB)
What is the answer to hypocrisy? The pursuit of holiness.
- Confess our hypocrisy to God and ask for God’s forgiveness.
- Regular time in God’s Word and prayer.
- Worship in a Christ-centered Church with an Acts 1:8 mission.
- Remove the mask to reveal the true self.
- Community and Fellowship with other followers of Jesus in a small group.
- Obedience to Christ and His commands.
- God not only helps us obey God, but God helps us WANT to obey God.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB)
ILLUSTRATION: Lessons from a wheat farmer about wheat and weeds
Questions for Reflection
Who is a hypocrite as defined by the teachings of Jesus?
Why don’t people feel comfortable sharing their struggles in a Church setting when it is supposed to be a place of love, safety, and refuge?
Why do we find it difficult to be authentic and vulnerable with those who are in Church with us? What stops us from sharing in an environment that is supposed to promote love, grace, trust, and acceptance for one another?
How does our choosing to be open, honest, and vulnerable with your struggles make us more relatable to others?
Have you ever found someone in the Church to be judgmental? If so, why did you feel judged? What did you do when you experienced that judgment?
When have you performed a religious deed to receive your own recognition and praise, rather than recognizing and glorifying God for it?
Is there hypocrisy in my life toward others?
Is there hypocrisy in my life toward myself?
Is there hypocrisy in my life toward God?
What are steps we may take to increase vulnerability and decrease hypocrisy in our lives? What positive impacts could an increased vulnerability bring to our Church?