MATTHEW 23:1-12 – Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
THEME OF THE DAY: HYPOCRITE AND HYPOCRISY. Today’s scripture is one of those portions easily read that we may not take the necessary time to make personal application. And it is all because of who the Lord is describing – scribes and Pharisees. Let me explain. First, when we hear the word “Pharisee” we may individually think, “Nope. Not me. I am a Christian not a religious person. Doesn’t apply.” Then, we read of the Lord’s implication and indictment of the Pharisees being hypocrites by their practice not matching their profession. Here, though, we need to pause and ponder. Let’s do so by first addressing the title of scribes and Pharisee as applied to us, then, the hypocrite.
The first point, us not being scribes and Pharisees, we may believe with confidence. We trust in the Lord Jesus for our reconciliation to God, and by no means consider our attempts to keep the law the way to be in harmony with the Lord. We may boldly hold to the position of not being scribes and Pharisees, but what about the second title, hypocrites?
When it comes to the Christian life, the genuine believer in Christ cannot be a hypocrite. Impossible. The definition itself tells us of this impossibility – a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion acting contrary to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. Real Christians don’t put up false fronts. I know. I know. We struggle to be transparent with other Christians largely because we don’t invest in building those safe relationships, but we don’t hide behind masks of being one thing in public and another in private. That is what hypocrites do. Not true believers but we do struggle with hypocrisy which does not mean we are hypocrites.
In the process of living the Christian life, we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. As we do, we become more aware of what God expects of us (2 Peter 3:18). But something else happens. With the knowledge of God gained, relationally and what He commands of us, we increase in our desire to obey Him. This is normal Christian growth – knowledge known, followed by the desire to apply the knowledge, Then, a painful experience enters our walks with the Lord. It is the raging battle between the flesh and Spirit defined by the Apostle Paul – For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do (Galatians 5:17). Paul would also add his personal experience of not doing what he desires to do – For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15). We know this too! And that does not make us hypocrite.
Remember, a hypocrite willingly does not practice what is professed. The Christian unwillingly fails to perfectly practice what is professed. The huge difference is the Christian hates this shortcoming and looks forward to the day when the battle with hypocrisy will be over, and perfect obedience to what is believed will be true forever. Let’s learn to distinguish the difference between being a hypocrite and fighting hypocrisy and especially when the devil accuses us of the former.
RAYER: “Father, protect me from being more a religious Pharisee than a practicing Christian.”
QUOTE: “The Pharisee is a hypocrite while the Christian fights hypocrisy – learn the difference.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim