Don’t Be a Hypocrite.
No one wants to be, right? Yet we likely don’t realize that we all can be hypocritical in our own way.
Luke 12 starts off with a warning against hypocrisy. Jesus warns His disciples to be on guard.
Picking up in Luke 12:1-3, which also includes the Scripture verses of the day:
“Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first, “Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”
Simply, All that is concealed will be revealed. Live the truth.
This is from one commentary:
Hypocrisy is an act.
“Hypocrisy refers to the act of claiming to believe something but acting in a different manner. The word is derived from the Greek term for “actor”—literally, “one who wears a mask”—in other words, someone who pretends to be what he is not.
Hypocrisy is a sin.
The Bible calls hypocrisy a sin. There are two forms hypocrisy can take: that of professing belief in something and then acting in a manner contrary to that belief, and that of looking down on others when we ourselves are flawed.
Hypocrisy is nothing new.
The prophet Isaiah condemned the hypocrisy of his day: “The Lord says, ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men’” (Isaiah 29:13). Centuries later, Jesus quoted this verse, aiming the same condemnation at the religious leaders of His day (Matthew 15:8-9). John the Baptist refused to give hypocrites a pass, telling them to produce “fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). Jesus took an equally staunch stand against sanctimony—He called hypocrites “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15), “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27), “snakes,” and “brood of vipers” (Matthew 23:33).
Love must be without hypocrisy.
We cannot say we love God if we do not love our brothers (1 John 2:9). Love must be “without hypocrisy” (Romans 12:9, NKJV). A hypocrite may look righteous on the outside, but it is a façade. True righteousness comes from the inner transformation of the Holy Spirit not an external conformity to a set of rules (Matthew 23:5; 2 Corinthians 3:8).”
Jesus warns us about hypocrisy because that is the natural way our souls go.
- We judge others and not ourselves.
- We try to have our righteousness be based on our adherence to rules.
- We seek to justify ourselves when Christ already did.
- Hypocrites cannot hide from a God Who sees all.
- Authentically live out the Gospel.
- Recognize and repent for sin daily.
- Cling to God’s word and grace.
Next, Jesus moves on to the one fear we are supposed to have. A fear of God.
Luke 12:4-7
4 “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! 6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
- Jesus tells us not to fear anything but God.
- And then reminds us just how much God cares for us.
- We are not to be afraid of God, but to fear Him as the One Who can condemn us.
- Hell is a real place, friends.
- Sometimes it is not politically or religiously correct to talk about hell.
- But we dare not shrink back from telling others about the reality of hell.
- Sinners will be judged by a perfect holy God.
- There is no purgatory, no second chance after death.
- We have to choose Christ now. Today. Don’t put it until tomorrow.
The remainder of Luke 12, we are reminded to:
- Acknowledge Christ. If we do not, He also will not acknowledge us.
- According to the dictionary, acknowledge means to: accept or admit the existence or truth of.
- And if we do accept the salvation of Jesus and believe He lives, we need to live like it.
- Don’t shrink back because man makes fun of faith.
- I was told that my faith was like a crutch early on in my walk with Jesus.
- I was mocked, put down, rejected.
- But there is no greater joy than walking with God.
- And God works in people’s lives when we stay true to His word and live it out.
- People need to see real Christians living what they say we believe.
- Jesus reminds us that our lives don’t consist of what we own. Riches vanish.
- And worrying about things in this world means we don’t yet understand that God takes care of us.
Luke 12:29-34
“29 Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Our treasure is not man’s praise or owning things on this earth.
- It is that we know God and understand His word!
- Jesus shares about the realities of faith in Him.
- We need to be ready for service (Luke 12:35-40).
- There will be rewards and punishment according to how we live (Luke 12:41-48).
- Believing in Jesus does not mean we will have a perfectly peaceful existence (Luke 12:49-53).
- In fact, if we are living right, we will be persecuted.
- In Luke 13, Jesus shares parables to help His disciples and those who have ears to hear that they need to:
- Live a life focused on what matters most: Living for God and helping others to know Jesus.
- There is a cost to following Jesus that many are not willing to pay.
Application:
We hear the phrase “be real” or “be authentic” today, but are we really “real”? Being real means admitting we aren’t enough. Being real means living what we believe. Being real in Jesus means owning our mistakes and daily repenting so people can see Jesus in us. Being real is real hard but being fake is so much harder.
- But being real is not the complete solution.
- Really, just don’t be a hypocrite.
- Live what you say you believe.
- That is one of the hardest things to do.
- This living out our faith and guarding against hypocrisy means we need to face myself daily in God’s word.
- We need to be on the watch for sin, self-righteousness
- We need to seek to be like Jesus.
- All that is concealed will be revealed.
7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Day #160: Luke 12-14
Scripture of the Day: Luke 12:2-3
Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Luke.12
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