A Little Pharisee Inside

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” MATTHEW 6:1-2

 

PONDER THIS

We all have to consider the level of hypocrisy in our lives. Is there a little Pharisee in you? Let me give you some questions to ask yourself: Have I ever failed to obey God because I wondered what other people would think about it? Do I ever serve God in a way that goes undetected, and I don’t tell anybody about it? Is my private life consistent with my public image? Am I wounded when others get credit for what I do? Have I ever, and do I ever, accept praise for things I’ve not done? Do I take credit when I know that credit is not there? If any of these are true, you have to admit, there’s a little Pharisee in you.

Then ask: Am I defeated and discouraged by the hypocrisy of another? Jesus knew there were hypocrites. One of the twelve apostles was a hypocrite. There always have been hypocrites. There always will be hypocrites. But no hypocrite on earth can keep me from serving Jesus. If you have reality in your heart, and you know God personally, then you know that while the hypocrite is wrong, Jesus is not wrong, and you know that you know Him and love Him.

In what ways do you relate to the Pharisees?

Why can we freely admit our hypocrisy before Jesus?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess to God the areas in which you struggle with hypocrisy and ask Him to help you grow in those areas.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Full Showroom – Empty Warehouse

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” MATTHEW 6:1-2

 

PONDER THIS

Our word hypocrite comes from the Greek word, hypocrites, meaning a play actor. The Greeks had actors who not only used makeup but also literally wore masks. To show they were happy, they put on the happy face. If they wanted to be sad, they put on the sad face. When they wanted to be angry, they put on the angry face. If they wanted to be menacing, they put on the menacing face. There is nothing genuine in hypocrisy—it is all a show.

The greatest argument for Christianity and the greatest argument against Christianity is the life of a Christian. In the Gospels we find the Lord Jesus Christ dealing with sinners, thieves, harlots, prostitutes, tax gathers, and so forth. Jesus had nothing but words of compassion, forgiveness, and love for these people. As a matter of fact, one of the main grievances against Jesus was He was a friend of sinners. On the other hand, our Lord reserved His most severe words for those we call hypocrites. He called them wolves in sheep’s clothing. He said they were like white-washed tombs on the outside but on the inside full of dead men’s bones. The biggest offenders were those who had everything on the showroom floor but nothing in the warehouse.

How have you been hurt by hypocrisy? Why is it so dangerous?

How have you recognized hypocrisy in your own life?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray and confess the ways in which you have spoken or acted hypocritically.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Living in Hypocrisy?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” Romans 2:1-3

 

PONDER THIS

It’s time we stop thinking primarily about others and begin to think about and examine ourselves. Even we who are saved may be guilty of hypocrisy. It is foolish to say, “Faults in others I can see, but praise the Lord, there are none in me.” We tend to want to measure ourselves by other people. We want to play the comparison game. The problem is that God measures us by the perfect standard: Himself.

The word hypocrite means play actor. In past times, the actors would put on disguises. If they were supposed to be happy, rather than merely acting happy, they would put on a happy face, a disguise. If they were to be sad, they’d put on a sad face. If they were to be fierce, they’d put on a fierce face. They wore masks. And Jesus essentially said, “In the religious world, there are some who are hypocrites—they are actors who are wearing disguises.” But Paul said in the passage above, “the judgment of God is according to truth.” God is going to pull off the mask; there will be no disguise. The standard will not be profession, pretension, or performance. Truth is the standard.

Why is it important to confess our hypocrisy to God?

What are some areas in which you see hypocrisy in your life?

PRACTICE THIS

Spend time in the Word, asking God to show you areas of hypocrisy in your life. Be ready to confess and repent in these areas.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do Hypocrites Keep You from Jesus?

PRAY OVER THIS

“They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.” 2 Peter 2:15

 

PONDER THIS

What do you do when you learn of counterfeit money? Do you throw away all your money? What do you do when you learn that some doctor is an impostor? Do you refuse to go to any doctor? What do you do when you learn that some lawyers are dishonest? Do you refuse ever to use a lawyer? Of course not. It is the counterfeit that proves the worth and the validity of the genuine item.

Why do people counterfeit Christianity? Counterfeit Christians prove the worth, the validity, and the reality of that which they are counterfeiting. Never let a hypocrite keep you away from the true riches of the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t be so foolish. You may say, “Well, I’m not going to church. There are hypocrites there.” May I give you some advice? It would be far better for you to spend a few days with some hypocrites than to spend eternity with all hypocrites in Hell. Don’t let a hypocrite keep you from the true riches of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How have you found it true that counterfeits prove the worth of the genuine item?

What are we missing about ourselves if we say we will avoid the Church because hypocrites attend?

PRACTICE THIS

End your time in prayer, thanking God for the worthiness of Jesus and the beauty of the true Gospel that redeems the worst of sinners and hypocrites.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers