February 4
Ex 19:16-21:21 | PS 28 | Prov 7:1-5 | Matt 23:13-39
Many may not realize that the word, "hypocrite" comes from the Greek term for "actor", literally "one who wears a mask". In other words a hypocrite is someone who pretends to be something that he/she is not. This can take the form of professing belief in something then acting in a manner contrary to that belief, or looking down on others ignoring our own flaws. This is wonderfully displayed in the Twilight episode, called "The Masks" first aired in 1964. In it a wealthy, dying man invites his greedy heirs, who pretended to care about him, but did not, to his house for Mardi Gras. They were required to wear masks until midnight or be cut off from their inheritance. When he dies at midnight, each of the four happily take off their masks, feeling no remorse for their father/ grand-father. Soon each realized that their own faces took on the mask that they were wearing, which they would now carry on forever: one was worry, one was greed, one was sloth, the last was vanity. Each mask was carefully chosen by the father, beforehand, to be a true reflection of that individual's character trait. Though this was only a television show, how true it is in many ways. Take a moment and look around. We can present ourselves one way or another, but over our lifetimes our faces often take on our true nature, as folds and creases become etched on our faces over years of wearing our own masks. There are faces which display joy over years of smiling, others have worry lines over anxiety, furrows when always angry, etc. Though many like to point at the people who go to church and scream, "hypocrite", this is often not a true application of the word. People who go to church are sinners, plain and simple. We are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, but we will remain far from perfect until we one day enter heaven. Living for Christ means just that. Sanctification is the process of becoming more and more like Him, but we fail often and daily. We, in the church, must always remember that, and never adopt a "holier than thou" attitude towards others.
Though Jesus was a friend of sinners, he reserved harsh criticism for the hypocrites. Sinners often realize their sin and their need for a Savior. Hypocrites, pretending to be something they are not, try to fool the world, and in the process expend their energy on keeping up their façade, rather than being real and humbling themselves before Jesus. We read in Matthew 23:25-28, "“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Jesus describes some of these characteristics which warranted this title. We read in 23:3-4, "Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." They enjoy being honored as we read in 23:5-7, "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues. greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’" They focus on the minutia, ignoring weightier matters, as He points out in 23:23, "“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."
We should not read into Jesus' tone as he points these things out to the Pharisees and scribes. Despite His stinging rebuke it was done out of love, as we read in Matthew 23:37, "“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" The saddest thing about hypocrites is though they attempt to fool others, they are really fooling themselves, and by elevating themselves, rather than adopting a position of submission, they are missing their only hope of salvation. We must be careful in our own walks. Jesus warned in Matthew 15:8, "‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me." We should let our talk and our walk match one another. We should remember Paul's words in Romans 12:9, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Look in the mirror and acknowledge what it is that you see. Don't overly condemn yourselves. But in that reflection if what comes back at you does not resemble Jesus, then stop pretending and start repenting. Submission before God is not a position of personal weakness. It is the moment when you can take on His strength. Stop pretending and start becoming.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: