Tag: woe
Woe to the hypocrite!
Scripture reading for July 29th: Matthew 23
Key Scriptures: Matthew 23:25-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white-washed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
In His last week on earth, Jesus talked plainly to the religious leaders about their personal hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is related to play-acting. They outwardly professed to be holy and righteous and law-abiding. In fact, others couldn’t measure up to their standards of keeping the law but what they did was done for show, not because of a pure heart or faith in the grace of God. Jesus plainly rebuked them, speaking ‘woe’ over their lives because inside they were full of greed, evil, covetousness, malice and lawlessness. They kept their appearance looking tidy, but inside they were a terrible mess. Jesus likened them to white-washed tombs that were full of dead man’s bones and all manner of decaying flesh and corruption. Jesus wasn’t trying to be mean. In fact, He was calling them to repent! God would clean the inside of the tomb if only they would humbly confess and turn to Jesus for cleansing. Each person chooses whether to continue the show or to come clean.
Matthew 23:33 “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, have mercy on me and speak plainly to my heart concerning hypocrisy. It is easy to judge and blame others, but harder to apply Your Word to my own heart and life. I want to be clean on the inside as only You can cleanse me. This is my only escape from the woe of hell. Thank You for Your great mercy and the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ!
1st Corinthians 6:9-11 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, or revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Putting on a show!
Scripture reading for August 17th: Isaiah 4-6, Matthew 23
Key Scriptures: Matthew 23:1-5 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. . .”
One of Jesus’ teachings in the last week of His life involved warning the people about the practice of the Pharisees and scribes. They were preachers who sat in the seat of authority in Israel and taught the Word of God. Jesus encouraged them to listen to them because of their position but not to follow their practice! They were play-actors, putting on a show for others to see but not practicing what they preached! This would bring God’s judgment on those involved!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, deliver me from any hidden hypocrisy–preaching but not practicing–Your Word. Empower me with the Holy Spirit to help people know You by preaching practicing Your Word.
Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
Practice what you preach!
Scripture reading for February 2nd: Matthew 23
Jesus had the hardest words for religious leaders who taught the Law of God. His principle was that those that had received much were responsible for much. “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for men to see: . . .” (Matthew 23:1-5a)
Jesus taught the people to obey their religious authorities. When we disrespect authority, we disrespect God Himself. (Romans 13:1-2) These authorities were bad examples! They did not live what they taught and their deeds were done to impress men and not God! This would bring “woe” upon them! They liked the titles and positions of authority, but were not humble before God or man. (Matthew 23:8-12)
They tithed religiously even down to every tenth leaf of their spices, but neglected the more important matters of justice and mercy and faithfulness. Jesus warned them that they ought to tithe, but not neglect the more important matters of treating people with dignity. They washed their hands and dishes religiously, but inside they were full of hypocrisy and wickedness! (Matthew 23:25-28) Jesus even went so far as to call them snakes and vipers for killing the prophets that God had sent to warn them and turn them back! He, the Christ, was doing so right then! When we read these woes, we must open our own lives to the Word! Hypocrisy is a deadly sin!
Woe to you hypocrites!
Scripture reading for February 2nd: Matthew 23:1-19, Psalm 22, Proverbs 6:20-26
Hypocrisy was one of Jesus’ pet peeves. The word for hypocrisy implies “play-acting”, and describes a person who learns a part to put on a show. Unfortunately, religious people are very prone to this type of thing and it made Jesus angry. He addressed the crowds that came to Him concerning their teachers and leaders. He told them that they should obey them and show them respect as they taught the law of God, but that they should not do as they did. They simply did not practice what they preached! (Matthew 23:3)
Hypocrites do what they do for men and not for God. They like to be seen as righteous and above the common person. They wear special clothes, like to have titles and social prominence and preeminence. In Jesus’ day, the liked the title of “Rabbi” which meant “teacher” and “father” which was a term endearing respect. Jesus reminded that they had one Father, who was in heaven, and one “Teacher” who was the Christ! If they truly wanted to be great, they should be the servant of all. (Matthew 23:5-12)
Hypocrites, by play-acting, actually hinder God’s kingdom from advancing because those who lead in this manner are really building up their own kingdom. They are still part of the devil’s crowd and have not experienced true redemption. They teach others to do as they do instead of humbly repenting of their sins and finding true freedom by learning from Christ and finding God as their heavenly father. They build large followings of people that use them as their “teacher” and “father” and learn to put on the same show for men!
Woe is the end result of a lifestyle of hypocrisy. Woe is trouble and heartache and ultimately weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is God’s displeasure for eternity as a consequence of seeking man’s approval by putting on a religious show. It is a condition that Jesus wanted no one to experience! My prayer for myself is that God would continue to reveal hypocrisy in my own life and lead me in His ways. I want to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Wouldn’t you rather too?