The Problem of Hypocrisy in the Church! Matthew 23

Verses for the Day

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. 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.

Application

There weren't many things that Jesus hated, but he hated hypocrisy. While he hated it in anyone, he detested it in the lives of the Jewish leaders. In fact if you read down in chapter 22, Jesus gave seven woes to these hypocritical leaders. He uses phrases like, "You shut the door of heaven's kingdom in people's faces", "you make your converts twice a child of hell as you are", "you blind fools", and "you are like whitewashed tombs". I think you get the point. 

I wonder what Jesus would say to leaders in the church today? I know that hypocrisy in the church today is a huge turnoff to people who stay away from churches. 

"Approximately 72% of unchurched adults view the church as being filled with hypocrites, a major factor in why many avoid attendance. Studies suggest that 36% of people who change churches do so because they found the pastor to be hypocritical." AI

There are many types of hypocrisy including but not limited to these types. 

Judgmentalism - It is a fact that some of the most judgmental people often do the same things they are judging others for. Jerry Falwell Jr. publicly damned homosexuality, but later got embroiled in a sex scandal with his wife and another man. This is one of many instances of public figures in Christianity whose "walk doesn't match their talk". They are a blight on the church because people use them as an example against Christianity. 

Performance and Pretense - The term for hypocrite also means, "those who wear a mask". These are people who spend a lot of time trying to look like a "super Christian" on the outside, but whose private lives doesn't match that at all. People often put on a "mask" to appear more righteous than they actually were. It is driven by a desire for praise of others. This what Jesus referred to as "whitewashed tombs". They look clean on the outside but were dying on the inside. 

Cheap Grace - This can be a danger for any Christian. This person says, "I can sin and know God is going to forgive me over and over again." It's sort of the "I can get it away with it" mentality. This version of the Christian life lacks the message of repentance which almost always accompanied the preaching of Jesus and his apostles. Repentance is not just being sorry for your sin but making a decision to turn away from it by turning to God. I also call this "Transactional Christianity". 

This version says, "If I accept Jesus as my Savior I'm good. I'm going to heaven so it doesn't really matter how I live my life. After all, I'm forgiven."

You can see why these types of Christians can be a huge turn off to unbelievers, especially when they are judgmental or look down upon them. 

A word of grace needs to be said here. I am going to say something that may shock you. At some level, "we are all hypocrites". Why? 

Because we claim to be followers of Jesus but we can never live up to the type of life he lived. If discipleship is becoming the type of person who would do and say the things Jesus did if he were me, we all fall woefully short. 

This is why people appreciate Christian who are honest and real about their own sins. The don't hide under a mask and act "holier than thou". 

Application:

1. Where do you need to watch out for behavior that might be deemed hypocritical? Being judgmental? Being concerned about an outward appearance of being religious? Living an unchanged life because, "After all Jesus will forgive me anyways!" 

2. How can being honest and real about your struggles attract people to the faith? How will this make your message about Jesus more believable?

I love the saying, "If not for the grace of God there go I." - John Bradford, 16th century martyr. He said this when he was in prison when he saw condemned prisoners being led to execution. 

Prayer

Jesus may our lips that praise you be in alignment with our lives. When we do the things the things you would do, may it not be for outward show, but the evidence of the transformation you have done in our hearts! Amen.