Matthew 23:1-39
Jesus Warns Against Hypocrisy
1 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.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. [14]
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
When I first read the Bible it seemed that Jesus was very much against hypocrisy...And He has His Perfect and Good Reasons...When I read the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, one sees hypocrisy and humility...The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is in Luke 18:9-14...Jesus tells the parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector who go to the temple to pray...The Pharisee boasts about his righteousness, while the tax collector beats his breast and confesses his sins...Jesus praises the tax collector for his humility and condemns the Pharisee's hypocrisy...And in Jesus story of The Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18-22) we see hypocrisy...This parable illustrates the hypocrisy of those who profess faith but fail to produce fruit...Jesus curses a barren fig tree, symbolizing the judgment that awaits those who claim to be followers of Christ but do not live up to His teachings...Then in Matthew twenty three, Jesus gives us a warning against hypocrisy...
I think that Jesus is telling us that hypocrisy undermines faith by creating a false sense of righteousness of oneself or a false sense of the righteousness of a group...Hypocrisy affects spiritual maturity in a negative way...When people profess to believe in certain values or principles but fail to live up to them (like the example in the Fig Tree story), it can lead to a disconnect between their beliefs and their actions...This disconnect can erode trust in the faith and make it seem superficial or irrelevant...
Hypocrites creates a false sense of security...Hypocrites may believe that their outward appearance of piety is enough to ensure their salvation, without the need for genuine repentance or spiritual growth...This can lead to a false sense of security and a neglect of the true work needed for faith...
Hypocrisy discourages others and their faith...When people see hypocrisy in the lives of believers, it can discourage them from seeking a relationship with God...It may make them question the authenticity of faith and the value of following Jesus...
Hypocrisy undermines the credibility of Jesus' followers...Hypocrisy within a church or group of believers can damage the church's reputation and credibility...It can make people less likely to trust the church or its teachings and belief in Jesus...
Hypocrisy hinders Spiritual Growth...Hypocrisy prevents people from truly examining their own hearts and addressing their shortcomings...Some people speak out and say one thing and then do another...These hypocrites can create a false sense of self-righteousness and hinder the spiritual growth of those around them...
Many people today claim to be followers of Christ or express Christian values, yet their actions and words often reveal a different reality...Look to the words of Scripture to see if their words match their actions...Many people today use social media to judge others, criticize their beliefs, and spread negativity....And many times they have never met these neighbors...This goes against Jesus' teachings of love, forgiveness, and acceptance...Some people seem to boast about their own righteousness and condemn, create division, and insult others...This is a form of hypocrisy that Jesus frequently condemned...Jesus is all about love and living in harmony with others...Some people with influence use social media to promote their own agendas or to criticize others, which often is contradicting the teachings of Jesus...Jesus says the Two Greatest Commandments are to love God and to love neighbor...Many people are quick to judge and condemn others, but they lack compassion and empathy that Jesus teaches...So this goes against Jesus' teachings of love, forgiveness, justice, and mercy...Can we have love without forgiveness?...Can we really have justice, without mercy?...
It's important to remember that true Christian faith is not just about words, but also about actions...Hypocrisy undermines the credibility of the Christian faith and can discourage people from seeking a genuine relationship with God...It's essential to be aware of the hypocrisy that exists today in our communications and the things we read and to strive to live a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus...This means loving our neighbors, forgiving others, and seeking to live a life of compassion and humility...
In summary, hypocrisy undermines faith by creating a false sense of righteousness, discouraging others, damaging the credibility of fellowship, the church, and hindering spiritual growth...Hypocrisy can create a distorted image of Christianity, or the wrong image of Jesus making it appear superficial or hypocritical...So hypocrites, in Jesus' time and today are undermining the Gospel of Jesus...This can discourage people from seeking a genuine relationship with God...Hypocrisy is a serious obstacle to genuine faith and should be avoided at all costs...