Mathew 23 Lesson

HYPOCRISY

Hypocrisy is a sin that Jesus and the Bible teach us to avoid.

According to Google Dictionary, hypocrisy is defined as:

• “The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense."

In Mathew Chapter 23, Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy.

As you study today’s lesson and read through the highlighted scriptures, make sure to constantly remind yourself of how much disdain God and Jesus have for hypocrites.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT HYPOCRISY

The Bible has plenty to say about hypocrisy. For our study, we have highlighted the following five verses:

1. “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” -Mathew 7:5,
2. “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.” -James 1:26,
3. “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” - Luke 6:46,
4. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.  So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” - Mathew 23:27-28,
5. “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” - Mathew 15:7-9.

JESUS’ REACTION TO HYPOCRISY

If anyone doubts how much Jesus dislikes hypocrisy, have them read Mathew Chapter 23 and see if they change their minds.

To say that Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees would be an understatement!

Jesus not only rebukes them, but He does it in a powerful, passionate way in public!

In condemning their hypocritical behavior, Jesus makes eight “Woe to you” statements:

1. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of Heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” – Mathew 23:13,
2. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” – Mathew 23:14, 
3. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” – Mathew 23:15,
4. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?  And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering?  Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it.  And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it.  And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.” – Mathew 23:16-22,
5. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.  You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” – Mathew 23:23-24,
6. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.  You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.” – Mathew 23:25-26,
7. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.  So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” – Mathew 23:27-28,
8. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.  Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers.  You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?” – Mathew 23:29-33.

CONCLUSION

Hypocrites and Christians are opposites.

Hypocrites say one thing but do another.

Christians need to be trustworthy people who say what they mean, and mean what they say!

As followers of Jesus, our “no means no” and our “yes means yes.” (Mathew 5:37)

Being trustworthy people that represent Jesus the right way is of paramount importance when it comes to our own personal salvation, and our ability to glorify God and serve others.

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture. It emphasizes how much lying and hypocrisy bother God:

• “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.” -Proverbs 12:22.