ON BEING A HYPOCRITE
Matthew 6:1

In his play titled, As You Like It, William Shakespeare penned the following lines:  All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.  They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts….  To paraphrase the playwright, we are all actors.

We have all enjoyed watching great actors and actresses playing their roles so well that we almost assume they are the real characters.  Yet, they are merely pretending to be something that they are not.  We call that acting.

As we begin our study of the second chapter in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, our focus will be upon what is true versus what is false.  I think we are all familiar with the term hypocrite.  This word comes from the Greek word hupokrisis that meant an expounder or an interpreter.  It referred to an actor on the ancient Greek stage.  In Greek theater there were no elaborate sets or lavish costumes.  Often one person played several roles, defining each by the various masks that he wore.  He was the hupokrisis.

In the New Testament, a hypocrite described a person who deliberately used religion to cover up his sins and to promote his own gains.  Hypocrisy was considered one of the greatest sins outside of idolatry because it turned worship into a phony mockery.  You might remember these chilling words from the pen of Isaiah:

“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”  says the Lord.  “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, And the fat of fed cattle.  And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.  When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?  Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Their incense is an abomination to Me.  New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.  I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me.  I am weary of bearing them.  So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you.  Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.  Your hands are full of bloodshed.  (Isaiah 1:11-15)

Jesus described the sin of hypocrisy by likening those who commit such sins to white-washed tombs (Matthew 23:27); concealed tombs (Luke 11:44); wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15); weeds in the midst of wheat (Matthew 13:25); and yeast (Luke 12:1).

The basic problem with the hypocrite was that he wanted to show off before men.  And he proceeded to do this in three areas:  giving, praying, and fasting. 

In our next study, we shall examine the hypocrisy that can come in our giving.

Father, the very word hypocrisy grates upon our tongue.  We stand in abhorrence at the thought of being a hypocrite.  And yet, painfully we confess that on too many occasions we have only played a role instead of modeling honesty before You.  In these coming studies, may Your Spirit speak to our lives and may we realize the importance of being honest with You, with ourselves, and with others.  We pray this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.          

 

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