Jesus Teaches Against Hypocrisy
Open Your Bible
Matthew 23:1-39, Mark 12:38-44
BY Seana Scott
I stood in the wooden church pew, too short to see the stage, and watched my mom from the side, singing loudly, “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, how great Thou art…” We attended church every Sunday. The pastor mesmerized my mom and dad with his inspirational preaching, which often included the call to “sow a financial seed.”
So, Mom and Dad donated generously toward the church and a global ministry to feed children overseas, even while chipping away at credit card debt. Then one Sunday, the pastor was gone. Grown-ups whispered. We stopped going to church. Years later I learned the elders fired the pastor due to embezzling the tithes and offerings.
I imagine the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Matthew 23 operated similary. Jesus says of them: “Hypocrites!” “Blind guides!” (vv.23,24).
Jesus revealed what was hidden behind their religious robes, long prayer garments, and honored positions: they were nothing they claimed to be; rather, they were “like whitewashed tombs” (v.27) and cups full of sin (v.25). They taught the law, but they followed the letter of the law not the spirit—and they cared more about the gold in the temple treasury than the righteous work of the temple itself (vv.16–22).
It’s easy to shake our heads in disgust at this pastor or the Pharisees of the world, but if I’m honest, I think we all have hypocritical tendencies. There are a myriad of ways we exalt ourselves in our mental comparison games. Maybe this is why Jesus emphasized that the greatest among us will be a servant (v.11) and warned that “whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (v.12). We desire greatness, but greatness in the kingdom means humility in humanity.
This means we don’t use position and power to exalt ourselves. Even if we’re never caught, one day all things will be laid bare—and we will all give an account. And then, the humble will be exalted.
Let’s not follow the footsteps of hypocrisy. Let’s be careful to make sure the greatness we pursue is the greatness of servitude.
53 thoughts on "Jesus Teaches Against Hypocrisy"
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To be great in the kingdom means to be humble here. Lord May you dampen my desire for acknowledgment and compliments. May I long to serve others on your behalf in quiet instead of for attention. Make known to me where I’m being a hypocrite.
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I pray that I practice what I preach. That my inside posture aligns with my outside. I would appreciate prayer for my daughter Chela today (senior in HS). She has an autoimmune disease and she is catching every bug that comes around. She was sick again yesterday for the 4th time this school year. Flu/cold symptoms. Not serious but enough to make her feel bad. She stresses about missing school. Thank you ladies!
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I pray that I practice what I preach. That my inside posture aligns with my outside. I would appreciate prayer for my daughter Chela today (senior in HS). She has an autoimmune disease and she is catching every bug that comes around. It
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This is beautifully said and touched me this morning. Thank you.
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Amen!
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“Let’s be careful to make sure the greatness we pursue is the greatness of servitude.”
WowMOLLY R – happy to hear of your dad’s change of heart. Continuing to pray for healing and wisdom in next steps.
JULIE A – praying the Lord send help to the youth ministry this very week
DONNA WILCOTT – how did your appointment go?
PAM C – were you able to qualify for help on your medications?
LEHUA K – are things better for you at work?
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Thank you for your prayers earlier this week for the decision I had to make about youth ministry. I really appreciate it and found it comforting to know that it wasn’t just down to me to choose. I have decided to leave the youth club and start leading the discipleship group, which will be much more spiritually challenging and rewarding. The youth club now desperately needs a new volunteer to step forward, otherwise they can’t continue. I trust God will provide, and that it’ll all work out in his timing.
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These are harsh words Jesus speaks. He cant take this lightly because it’s about our hearts. He needs to warn, out of love for His Father and the people. The Pharisees mislead themselves and the people they teach. When it comes to others, I see the importance of calling out hypocrisy. May I be willing to also see where in my life I don’t practice what I preach. Where my outside says something else than what’s inside. Where my behaviour as a Christian comes from the wrong motivations. Create in me a clean heart, o Lord!
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