Hypocrites Presented by Steven Schiller
INTRODUCTION
What is a hypocrite?
Some are accused of hypocrisy when their walk does not measure up to their talk
But that may be an indication of weakness, not hypocrisy per se
"Hypocrite" comes from the Greek "hupokrites (hoop-ok-ree-tace'), meaning an actor under an assumed character; e.g., stage-player (Strong's)
A true hypocrite is one who pretends to be something he or she is not, and really has no intention of becoming
Jesus addressed hypocrites in His day, in particular some scribes and Pharisees...
They were among the more religiously conservative of that time
Yet some of the harshest words Jesus ever spoke were directed toward them
In just one speech, he called them...
Hypocrites (seven times) - Mt 23:13-15,23,25,27,29
Fools (twice) and blind guides (five times) - Mt 23:16-17,19, 24,26
Serpents, brood of vipers (once) - Mt 23:33
Despite such strong condemnation, one can learn from hypocrites...
You can heed their teaching, when it comes from God's word - cf. Mt 23:1,2-3
Don't automatically disregard the message if the messenger is a hypocrite
Look beyond the messenger to the original source of the message
You can also learn how not to act...
Especially when you take note of how Jesus rebuked them
Which we shall do in this lesson
[What valuable lessons can we learn from hypocrites? The first are lessons gleaned ...]
FROM THEIR ABUSE OF AUTHORITY
BINDING ON OTHERS WHAT ONE IS UNWILLING TO DO...
When speaking from Moses' seat in the synagogues, they were speaking with authority
Unfortunately, they were binding things on others they themselves were unwilling to observe - Mt 23:1,2,3-4
This breeds disrespect for all authority, including the Word of God
-- If we desire the highest regard for God's word, then practice what we preach!
DOING WORKS TO BE SEEN OF MEN...
When they did their works, they did them to be seen by others - Mt 23:5a
They loved to wear religious clothing that gave appearance of devotion - Mt 23:5b
With time, such hypocrisy will become evident to those who know us
-- If we desire God's approval, we need to do things to glorify God, and at times seen only by Him - Mt 5:16; 6:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-18
SEEKING ATTENTION AND SPECIAL TREATMENT...
The Pharisees loved special treatment received from others
Such as the best seats and honorary titles - Mt 23:6-7
Jesus expected His disciples to be different - Mt 23:8,9,10,11-12
He forbade the use of religious titles
He enjoined humility as the road to greatness
-- If we desire to honor Christ, we will respect His teaching and not use religious titles or expect special treatment, but serve others with humility
[As Jesus continues with a diatribe against the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, we glean several lessons...]
FROM THEIR FAILURE IN TEACHING
FAILING TO SAVE OTHERS...
They failed to truly show others the way to the kingdom of heaven, and to go in themselves - Mt 23:13
Through their doctrines they had rendered the commandments of God of no effect - cf. Mt 15:3,4,5-6
Their teaching came from hearts far removed from God - cf. Mt 15:7,8,-9
-- We need to make sure our teaching saves both ourselves and others - cf. 1Ti 4:16
MISUSING RELIGION FOR MONEY AND PRESTIGE...
They used religion to take advantage of widows, and impress others - Mt 23:14
Paul warned Timothy and Titus about such teachers - 2Ti 3:4,5-6; Tit 1:10-11
Instead, we should view godliness with contentment as true gain - cf. 1Ti 6:3,4,5,6,7-8
-- It is imperative that we do things honorable in the sight of all - cf. 2Co 8:21
MAKING PEOPLE WORSE THAN OURSELVES...
The Pharisees did not make people better, they made them worse! - Mt 23:15
Perhaps by their emphasis on the traditions of men, rather than upon the word of God
The Pharisees themselves may have known the word of God to some degree
But in neglecting God's word, they starved those who received their teaching!
-- We must be careful not to put ourselves or traditions between God's word and those we teach, but let them know "the whole counsel of God"! - cf. Ac 20:27
MAKING DISTINCTIONS WHERE GOD HAS NOT...
The scribes and Pharisees made fine distinctions between the types of oaths one could swear - Mt 23:16,17,18,19,20,21-22
We can easily do similar things today
Saying some commands of God are essential to salvation, while others are not
Teaching our "think so's" and "it seems to me" instead of telling people what the Bible says
-- To safely guard against this, "let us speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent", proclaiming the oracles of God - cf. 1Pe 4:11
[As Jesus increases the level of His righteous indignation against the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees of that day, we are able to learn three final lessons...]
FROM THEIR INCONSISTENCY OF PRACTICE
LEAVING COMMANDS OF GOD UNDONE...
They left undone the "weightier" matters of God's law - Mt 23:23-24
They stressed tithing, but neglected justice, mercy, faith
Thus they would strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel
We can be guilty of the same thing
By stressing "lighter" matters, and leave "weightier" matters undone
Also by stressing "weightier" matters, and leave "lighter" things undone
-- Jesus said we should do both, leaving neither undone, for all of God's commandments are important! - cf. Mt 5:19
FOCUSING ONLY ON THE OUTER MAN...
The "blind" scribes and Pharisees focused only on the outside - Mt 23:25,26,27-28
Concerned with keeping the traditions of ritual cleansing
Willing to put up with extortion, self-indulgence, hypocrisy and lawlessness
We can be guilty of having the wrong focus
Stressing big buildings, large crowds
Accepting people into the church without challenging them to true repentance
-- If we are to avoid creating a church of hypocrites, then we need to emphasize true repentance, a conversion of the inner man - cf. Ro 12:2
HONORING THE PAST, BUT UNWILLING TO LIVE IT...
They honored the ancient men of God, but were more like their ancestors who murdered the prophets - Mt 23:29,30-31
Indeed, they would do even more harm than their fathers - Mt 23:32,33-34
Upon that generation would come the judgment for the murder of all God's prophets (cf. the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.) - Mt 23:35,36,37,38-39
We honor men like Jesus and Peter, but are we willing to live what they preached?
Are we willing to obey their commands? - cf. Mt 28:18,19-20; Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38
Or are we like many back then who refused to heed their word?
CONCLUSION
What can we learn from hypocrites? A lot! Provided we...
Take to heart Jesus' denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees!
Do not imitate their abuse of authority, failure in teaching, and inconsistency of practice!
Speaking of hypocrites, some people avoid church because "there are too many hypocrites there." There may be hypocrites in the church, but that is no reason not to follow Jesus...
Did the hypocrisy of Judas Iscariot permit the rest of the apostles to leave Jesus?
Do you allow the presence of hypocrites keep you from enjoying other activities (such as sports events, vacations, etc.)?
Besides...which is better, to spend a short time with hypocrites in the church, or to spend eternity with hypocrites in hell? Remember what Jesus said of the hypocrites:
"How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" (Mt 23:33b)
Only through the redemption God offers through His Son can any of us escape the condemnation of hell. Don't let the hypocrisy of some keep you from the blessings of salvation in Christ Jesus!
HEAR
BELIEVE
REPENT
CONFESS
BE BAPTIZED
LIVE FAITHFULLY
- Home
- (ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN) STAYING SAVED DB
- Abortion (forced termination)
- All authority
- All have sinned
- Are you a Christian
- A place for God`s name(this is it)
- Abounding hope
- Are you the enemy of God
- Amazing grace
- Awesome Father,Son,Holy spirit
- Audio Bible (KJV)
- Authority
- Abomination
- Accuser of GOD`S people
- Accuser
- AUDIO RIVERSIDE CHURCHOFCHRIST
- Adversary
- Apologetics press
- Born again
- Baptizm search for truth
- Acts conversion chart
- Baptizm immersion not sprinkle, pouring
- Baptizm NT
- Baptizm
- Bible read & listen
- Brand new creation
- Belief more than knowing there is a GOD
- Bethel
- Baptizm (antitype)
- Brain washed (believing lies)
- BAPTIZM POINT OF SALVATION
- Bible inspiration
- Being mistreated for doing good.
- Bible charts Donnie Barnes
- Bible verse of the day
- Be not many masters.
- Beyond the logos
- Baptizm forgiveness of sin, washed in the blood of JESUS
- Bible book outlines
- Bless your enemies curse not
- Bible`s scientific foreknowledge
- Children giving glory to GOD
- Can GOD`S house be established today?
- CONTACT US
- Condemn your brother with your tongue
- Church built by GOD
- Church built on Christ
- Christianity 101
- Childrens video
- Childrens : Digger Doug
- Christ
- CONTACT
- Church of Jesus Christ
- Church of CHRIST Romans 16:16
- Committed to GOD
- Cast the first stone
- Creation
- Dictionary
- Deception of false teachers
- Christs
- Did Jesus build more than 1 church?
- Divorce and remarriage
- Day of the Lord
- Denominationlism
- Drinking alcohol
- Diotrephes
- Falling away
- Does doctrine matter
- Filthy rags
- Forgiveness
- False preaching can keep u from heaven
- Faith the substance of all things
- Fake preachers
- False Teaching
- False teacher, False preacher DS
- Faith
- False Preachers
- Fabricated truth
- First gospel sermon
- Forget God?
- Give account for yourself
- GOD is righteous
- GOD`S PLAN IS NOT MAN`S DESIGN
- God`s will for you
- GOD
- Gossip David Schmidt
- GOD built true church not man
- GOD`S calling, the good new`s
- False brethren
- Gospel broadcasting network
- How do you obey the gospel?
- How beautiful are the feet that preach
- Gospel Enacted
- Homosexuality
- Heaven/Hell
- How to get to heaven?
- Heart
- Hypocrites
- Hymns
- Have you obeyed the gospel?
- Hope
- How is the church organized?
- Inspiration what is it?
- Interview with satan(father of lies)
- In Christ
- Influence of evil
- In Jesus Christ
- In Christ the fullness of the Godhead
- Is there more than 1 church? no
- JESUS
- Jesus the way
- In Christ (what is it being in Christ)
- Jesus is Lord
- Inspired word of GOD
- Jesus Jesus Jesus
- Jesus is our faith to our beloved
- JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
- Jesus has come in the flesh
- Kenya gallery1
- Kingdom come ?
- Lying wonder
- Jesus is Lord (Kurios)
- Lord`s church
- LOCATION OF ONE TRUE CHURCH
- Light at Riverside Church of CHRIST
- Lost
- LINKS
- Lying preachers
- LORDS church part 1
- Looking for things to get better
- Leaders of this world should be ashamed
- Lying Christians is their any without
- Lord`s supper
- Law of Liberty inCHRIST
- Light of the world
- Leading to Christ
- Lesson`s books of the bible gbn
- Love God, the creator of Love.
- Ladies videos
- Meddling & Gossip is sin
- Man`s device (not GOD`S)
- MURMURINGS, MURMURERS, MURMUR
- Lying 1
- None righteous no not one
- Making the change
- Man`s tradition or God`s word
- Moral issues
- New Creation
- Overcome evil with good
- No change
- Our GOD is a awesome GOD
- Preachers leading w/ no authority from GOD
- Obey the gospel
- Only 1 church (church of CHRIST)
- Pleasing God
- Pride of men hinder the advancement of the gospel
- Power of the tongue
- Persecution and Oppression
- Prayer
- Persecution
- Preaching Jesus
- Root of all evil
- practicing SIN
- REPENT!
- Riverside gallery
- Perverting the gospel
- Pray without ceasing
- Religious error
- Reject God
- Repent
- RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD
- References on request
- Sober
- Scriptually organized w/o deacons?
- Stairway to heaven
- Searching for truth
- Sinners prayer 4min video
- Serving GOD or Self serving
- Salvation
- Sheet music
- Submit and we will pray for you
- Scripual and unscriptually organized churches
- Safe in the arms of GOD
- Service to GOD
- Such were some of you
- Searching for truth(book)
- Sincere,True Ministry
- STOP
- Spirit to the churches
- Speak evil of a Christian is sin against Christ
- SHEPHERD
- SERMONS
- SUNDAY APRIL 17 2022
- Slave of the creator
- Same sex marriage
- Thanks to GOD
- Truth about
- The holy spirit
- The dog has returned to his vomit
- The Church
- Truth
- Truth for the world
- The way we were
- The devil
- 2 Reasons to believe ap
- Those who persecute you
- U HAVE AN ENEMY!
- Unscriptual organization of the church
- Time for truth
- Unless the Lord build the house
- Vengeance
- What is the Gospel?
- WOE WOE WOE
- The Lord`s Supper
- When you die
- What must i do to be saves (transcript)
- James Watkins
- U WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDLE WORDS
- Why so many churches (Transcript)
- Withdrawal fellowship
- World Video Bible School (WVBS)
- What names on your sign
- What GOD has cleansed
- Wonderful Grace
- What must i do to be saved?
- Worship
- Walking with GOD
- Where in the bible is your church mentioned
- Your unbelief
- Home
- (ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN) STAYING SAVED DB
- Abortion (forced termination)
- All authority
- All have sinned
- Are you a Christian
- A place for God`s name(this is it)
- Abounding hope
- Are you the enemy of God
- Amazing grace
- Awesome Father,Son,Holy spirit
- Audio Bible (KJV)
- Authority
- Abomination
- Accuser of GOD`S people
- Accuser
- AUDIO RIVERSIDE CHURCHOFCHRIST
- Adversary
- Apologetics press
- Born again
- Baptizm search for truth
- Acts conversion chart
- Baptizm immersion not sprinkle, pouring
- Baptizm NT
- Baptizm
- Bible read & listen
- Brand new creation
- Belief more than knowing there is a GOD
- Bethel
- Baptizm (antitype)
- Brain washed (believing lies)
- BAPTIZM POINT OF SALVATION
- Bible inspiration
- Being mistreated for doing good.
- Bible charts Donnie Barnes
- Bible verse of the day
- Be not many masters.
- Beyond the logos
- Baptizm forgiveness of sin, washed in the blood of JESUS
- Bible book outlines
- Bless your enemies curse not
- Bible`s scientific foreknowledge
- Children giving glory to GOD
- Can GOD`S house be established today?
- CONTACT US
- Condemn your brother with your tongue
- Church built by GOD
- Church built on Christ
- Christianity 101
- Childrens video
- Childrens : Digger Doug
- Christ
- CONTACT
- Church of Jesus Christ
- Church of CHRIST Romans 16:16
- Committed to GOD
- Cast the first stone
- Creation
- Dictionary
- Deception of false teachers
- Christs
- Did Jesus build more than 1 church?
- Divorce and remarriage
- Day of the Lord
- Denominationlism
- Drinking alcohol
- Diotrephes
- Falling away
- Does doctrine matter
- Filthy rags
- Forgiveness
- False preaching can keep u from heaven
- Faith the substance of all things
- Fake preachers
- False Teaching
- False teacher, False preacher DS
- Faith
- False Preachers
- Fabricated truth
- First gospel sermon
- Forget God?
- Give account for yourself
- GOD is righteous
- GOD`S PLAN IS NOT MAN`S DESIGN
- God`s will for you
- GOD
- Gossip David Schmidt
- GOD built true church not man
- GOD`S calling, the good new`s
- False brethren
- Gospel broadcasting network
- How do you obey the gospel?
- How beautiful are the feet that preach
- Gospel Enacted
- Homosexuality
- Heaven/Hell
- How to get to heaven?
- Heart
- Hypocrites
- Hymns
- Have you obeyed the gospel?
- Hope
- How is the church organized?
- Inspiration what is it?
- Interview with satan(father of lies)
- In Christ
- Influence of evil
- In Jesus Christ
- In Christ the fullness of the Godhead
- Is there more than 1 church? no
- JESUS
- Jesus the way
- In Christ (what is it being in Christ)
- Jesus is Lord
- Inspired word of GOD
- Jesus Jesus Jesus
- Jesus is our faith to our beloved
- JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
- Jesus has come in the flesh
- Kenya gallery1
- Kingdom come ?
- Lying wonder
- Jesus is Lord (Kurios)
- Lord`s church
- LOCATION OF ONE TRUE CHURCH
- Light at Riverside Church of CHRIST
- Lost
- LINKS
- Lying preachers
- LORDS church part 1
- Looking for things to get better
- Leaders of this world should be ashamed
- Lying Christians is their any without
- Lord`s supper
- Law of Liberty inCHRIST
- Light of the world
- Leading to Christ
- Lesson`s books of the bible gbn
- Love God, the creator of Love.
- Ladies videos
- Meddling & Gossip is sin
- Man`s device (not GOD`S)
- MURMURINGS, MURMURERS, MURMUR
- Lying 1
- None righteous no not one
- Making the change
- Man`s tradition or God`s word
- Moral issues
- New Creation
- Overcome evil with good
- No change
- Our GOD is a awesome GOD
- Preachers leading w/ no authority from GOD
- Obey the gospel
- Only 1 church (church of CHRIST)
- Pleasing God
- Pride of men hinder the advancement of the gospel
- Power of the tongue
- Persecution and Oppression
- Prayer
- Persecution
- Preaching Jesus
- Root of all evil
- practicing SIN
- REPENT!
- Riverside gallery
- Perverting the gospel
- Pray without ceasing
- Religious error
- Reject God
- Repent
- RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD
- References on request
- Sober
- Scriptually organized w/o deacons?
- Stairway to heaven
- Searching for truth
- Sinners prayer 4min video
- Serving GOD or Self serving
- Salvation
- Sheet music
- Submit and we will pray for you
- Scripual and unscriptually organized churches
- Safe in the arms of GOD
- Service to GOD
- Such were some of you
- Searching for truth(book)
- Sincere,True Ministry
- STOP
- Spirit to the churches
- Speak evil of a Christian is sin against Christ
- SHEPHERD
- SERMONS
- SUNDAY APRIL 17 2022
- Slave of the creator
- Same sex marriage
- Thanks to GOD
- Truth about
- The holy spirit
- The dog has returned to his vomit
- The Church
- Truth
- Truth for the world
- The way we were
- The devil
- 2 Reasons to believe ap
- Those who persecute you
- U HAVE AN ENEMY!
- Unscriptual organization of the church
- Time for truth
- Unless the Lord build the house
- Vengeance
- What is the Gospel?
- WOE WOE WOE
- The Lord`s Supper
- When you die
- What must i do to be saves (transcript)
- James Watkins
- U WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDLE WORDS
- Why so many churches (Transcript)
- Withdrawal fellowship
- World Video Bible School (WVBS)
- What names on your sign
- What GOD has cleansed
- Wonderful Grace
- What must i do to be saved?
- Worship
- Walking with GOD
- Where in the bible is your church mentioned
- Your unbelief
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