Jesus Speaks Against Hypocrisy

Topic: Fortification
Passage: Luke 12:1–12

September 13, 2022

Commentary

 

In these first twelve verses of chapter 12 Jesus sounds a warning concerning hypocrisy, as the people were trying to appear good when their hearts were far from Him. Their selfishness would soon expose them as power-hungry imposters, not devoted religious leaders. Have you ever heard someone say,"I will not go to that church because it is full of hypocrites.” Actually there are hypocrites in every walk of life. These are people who try to impress others in order to  hide their  real self. Jesus gives us the following guideline for keeping hypocrisy out of our lives:

  1. We must understand what it is (v. 1) – He says it is like leaven which begins very small but grows quickly.  It does to the ego what yeast does to bread dough.
  2. We must recognize it as foolish and futile (vv. 2-3) – Nothing can really be hidden from God so why go on pretending.
  3. We must understand what causes it (vv. 4-7) – Jesus mentions fear five times in these verses and the basic cause of hypocrisy is the fear of what others may say about us or do to us.
  4. We must confess Christ openly (vv. 8-9)- It is not important that men praise our names on earth, but it is important that God acknowledges us in heaven (II Tim. 2:8-14).
  5. We must depend on the Holy Spirit (vv. 10-12) – The Jewish nation, even though they had asked Pilate to crucify Jesus, could have been forgiven if they had listened. This was their last opportunity and they failed by rejecting the witness of the Spirit (Acts 7:51).

Application

Hypocrites love titles and honors but the true Christian cares not for titles. How do I measure up to the guidelines listed above? I must never do things to get the applause of men. It is so easy to care more about what people think about me than in what God knows about me. Charles Spurgeon said “there is no higher degree than that of a sinner saved by grace."

Luke 12:1– 12 (NET)

1 Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 3 So then whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

8 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God’s angels. 9 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 But when they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you must say.”