Matthew 23 - Why God Hates Hypocrisy!

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A Warning Against Hypocrisy

One of the major characteristics of hypocrisy is we say one thing, but we do the opposite. Our words don't match our actions. What we portray a certain type of person the outside, which doesn't match what we are like on the inside. Jesus calls the Pharisees "hypocrites" to the crowds and to his disciples. He says about them, 

Literally, the word “hypocrites” refers to an actor, someone playing a part. Jesus exposed the corruption covered by the spiritual image of the scribes and Pharisees. (Guzik)

The Pharisees were "fakes". They wore a mask of religiosity but inside their hearts were as black as coals. Whereas Jesus came to proclaim the availability of God's kingdom here on earth through Him, the Pharisees shut the door on God's kingdom. (Guzik)

But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 

It is not necessarily what they are saying which is wrong, as it is the Law God gave to the Israelites, but it is they way in which they administered it. They put heavy burdens on the people to keep the tiniest matters of the law without helping them to obey it. 

The other character defect of the Pharisees is that they were very vain. They wore fancy religious garments to let people know they were the religious "big wigs". They loved to be called as "Rabbi" in the marketplace to show their superior status among the people. 

"Jesus warned His listeners and us against giving anyone inappropriate honor. One may have a father or teachers in a normal human sense, but should not regard them in a sense that gives them excessive spiritual honor or authority." (Guzik)

“In the Church of Christ, all titles and honors which exalt men and give occasion for pride are here forbidden.” (Spurgeon)

Jesus concludes that the greatest among them would be a servant. Jesus exemplified the heart of a servant by emptying himself and becoming a servant to us even in giving up his life on the cross. Jesus always deflected the glory people wanted to him and gave glory to the Father. Jesus chose to be a servant and as Paul says in Philippians 2:5, "You should have the same mindset as Jesus". Serving others first is our calling card as believers. It is a mindset. It is an attitude and a conscious choice we make on a daily basis. 

Finally, Jesus said that those exalt themselves will eventually be humbled. Many times I have experienced this in my life, when I looked for praise from others. Even when I got the praise it was not enough. It was hollow because it was self generated. It is best to be content with the Father's approval, which we already have in Christ. Jesus is proud of us when we act like servant like he did. That should be enough for us. When someone does give us a compliment, we can simply say "thank you!" 

Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees

Jesus spent the rest of the chapter pronouncing woes upon the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Jesus starts by calling them "hypocrites". 

The religious leaders kept people from the kingdom of heaven by making human traditions and human religious rules more important than God’s Word. This was clearly seen in the way that they opposed and rejected Jesus; if they had opened the kingdom of heaven to men, they would have welcomed and received Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. (Guzik)

They practiced things like tithing even their spices. But they neglected the more important laws of like taking care of widows and orphans. To the contrary, the took advantage of the widows to gain more funds. 

They also manipulated the oaths people made by making some of them to be binding and some to be non-binding, especially as it related to gifts given on the altar. 

Out of obedience to God’s Word they refused to swear by the name of God (as commanded in Exodus 20:7). Yet they constructed an elaborate system of oaths, some of which were binding and some were not. It was a way of making a promise while keeping fingers crossed behind one’s back.

“To the Jew an oath was absolutely binding, so long as it was a binding oath. Broadly speaking, a binding oath was an oath which definitely and without equivocation employed the name of God; such an oath must be kept, no matter what the cost. Any other oath might be legitimately broken.” (Barclay)

I think this might be similar to the pledge system most churches us to get an estimate of how much giving the church can expect. In a sense when someone turns in their giving commitment it is a promise to give a certain amount to the church. But it is not as much the gift that is important but the heart and motivation that goes with it. When someone gives it is a response to Jesus' gift on the cross, which replaced the need for an altar.

Jesus wants us to give willingly and not under obligation otherwise it is not really a gift.  

Most altars are empty and have a cross above them reminding us that it is not our sacrifice but the sacrifice of Christ, Paul says in Romans 12:2, 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2

Jesus concludes with the harshest rebuke he will have for anyone in his three years of ministry. Remember these men were supposed to be the religious leaders and shepherds of God's people. I said in a blog last week that Jesus wasn't "necessarily nice", especially as it came to those who purport to represent God, but are really wolves in sheep's clothing! 

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

These are the last words of the chapter. We see Jesus' heart for the people of Israel, who are like "sheep without a shepherd". He predicts that they will kill prophets and stone those who are sent them. This would certainly apply to their treatment of him as well. 

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."

Luke 19:41 tells us that Jesus wept as He looked over the city of Jerusalem, thought about its coming judgment, and said these words. Jesus wanted to protect them from the terrible judgment that would eventually follow their rejection of Him.

It is written that Jesus wept two times: here, at the pain of knowing what would befall those who reject Him; and also at the tomb of Lazarus, weeping at the power and pain of death.

This heartfelt cry is another way to see that Jesus didn’t hate these men He rebuked so strongly. His heart broke for them. When we sin, God does not hate us; He genuinely sorrows for us, knowing that in every way our sin and rebellion only destroys our life. We should hope to share God’s sorrow for lost humanity.