Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
3 “Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Introduction Jesus encourages us to love Him, love others, and to be real, consistent, not hypocritical. What causes hypocrisy many times is a fear of what people would think if they really knew us, and it’s made worse if we are in an atmosphere which is critical and judgmental, like the Pharisees. Hypocrisy is a serious blight on the church in the eyes of the world.

1. All people want to be thought of as good - show mainly their good side. Even terrorists want to be thought of as honorable.

I asked a man, Why do you come to church? It helps my business. Are you any more ethical than anyone else? No, but people think I am because I go to church.

2. Some “good people” are actually hypocrites v1

12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy - under (hidden from) judgment (the ability to discern) - not genuine, fake, play acting, to speak from a stage, reality different from appearance. Flying under the radar.

The outside of the dish is presented, the inside hidden. The top of the grave, not the inside.

Some people pretend to be faithful to God and to the principles of goodness because it suits their own agenda, but in reality their hearts are far from God and goodness.

3. Hypocrisy spreads v1

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

As leaven spreads through dough, so does Phariseeism and hypocrisy through people and groups of people.

Hypocrisy appeals to pride, appearances. If everyone presents himself as bright and shiny, with no flaws or problems, then if someone is not perfect, they are compelled to try to hide it. We end up with a whole community of fakers, false Christians, people who are not able to be real with each other, and they don’t really know or understand each other.

This is not the way the family of God is supposed to be. A miserable double life.

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Do you like to be understood? Being loved for who you are? We can’t let the hypocrisy of false holiness spread.


4. It’s a blessing to be able to be sincere - to have integrity (each aspect of life interconnected and working together), love the truth, not to have to live in dualism, to be able to be yourself, to be sincere.

Latin - without wax

Greek - without hypocrisy, or judged by full sunlight

What a relief, the pressure’s off. What you see is what you get. No fine print, no double dealing, no bait and switch.

5. An atmosphere of grace is necessary - If we show grace, mercy, and the acceptance of reality, it fosters truth, honesty, victory over problems

Isaiah 57:11a
11 “And of whom have you been afraid, or feared, That you have lied And not remembered Me, Nor taken it to your heart?

Why do people lie, hide things, cover up? Out of fear. What would people think?

Grace and truth or mercy and truth mentioned together in the Bible 26x.

When we are gracious, non judgmental, people are more comfortable being themselves, telling the truth, being real.

I found I could not talk to the missionaries at Panorama because they were gossips. Missed out on some good counsel, spiritual growth, deeper relationships.

So in the church, we cannot allow Pharisees to run amok.

We cannot allow an atmosphere of pride, criticism, judgmentalism, condemnation, gossip. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Rather, we need to try to understand people, what they are going through. If we are going to evaluate each other, we need to use love as a standard, not pop righteousness, churchianity, a list of “sins” or our own opinions and preferences. There is only one question: Are we loving God, other people?

Many people are unnecessarily alienated, kept trapped in their problems because they are afraid to talk about it, share what’s really going on. Pastors and other church leaders many times feel isolated and alone, and may have deep needs, but they have no one to share it with because they are so high up on the pedestal and have no one they can talk to honestly.

This is why I try to set the example by being real, open and honest with you about my life. Sometimes people raise their eyebrows, sometimes I get shot at, but it’s worth it if it helps us all avoid hypocrisy so we can be real with each other.

We need to create and require an atmosphere of grace, graciousness, mercy, kindness, understanding.

I had a chance to do this yesterday after the men’s breakfast. On Thursday, a bunch of boys came and ate the BBQ, but then refused to come up for the church service. I said, “Next week they are getting banned.” Some of the same boys showed up right after the men’s breakfast yesterday, hungry, and we had some leftovers.

So I had a decision to make. Lecture them and turn them away, to “teach ‘em a lesson,” or be gracious.

I decided to be gracious, feed them, and give them the same devotional I had just given the men and boys who had come earlier. It was like 1st and 2nd service on Sunday. Austin sat and graciously listened to the whole thing twice, like some of you do. And the boys responded well and were grateful too. WWJD? I had to teach twice, and clean up twice, but it was worth it.

An atmosphere of graciousness is mandatory if we want to avoid hypocrisy. People have to know they are free to share their hearts and their lives openly without being judged.

6. All will be known anyway v2-3

2 “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
3 “Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

If not in this life, on judgment day. So we might as well be honest with each other now.

7. Confession is good for the soul James 5:16

16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

When we renounce hypocrisy, and decide to love the truth, if there are areas of our lives revealed which are not within the bounds of love, either to God or to other people, we need to be healed. v16


Healing begins when we are able to confess, to “say the same” to at least one other person who will not judge us, but seek to help us.

How do we really help somebody? Luke 11:46, 52

46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

There are many interpretations on the “key of knowledge.” What do you think it is in the context of hypocrisy? Hypocrisy - under (hidden from) judgment (the ability to discern).

The key of knowledge is when we realize it is a far more precious thing to really know each other as we are, and to be known and understood, and to seek the highest and best for each other, than the bad joke it is to pretend that we’re perfect, and live a life that’s fake, false, disjointed and self destructive.

Conclusion

Jesus showed us the ultimate in grace and mercy when He died for us on the cross, so we would be comfortable coming to him in honesty, truth and confession, knowing that He would not judge or condemn, but just forgive us, save us and help us. We don’t have to fake it anymore.

I love Him for that.

Application to My Life