Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
How many of you like to drink an ice cold can of pop? Do you ever go into the local gas station, and when you’re done pumping, grab one of your favorite ones from their cooler? You cannot wait to drink it, and by the time you finally reach your vehicle, you have already opened the can, and taken some generous swigs to quench your thirst. But did you check to see what was inside the can before drinking it? Did you pour some into a glass and make sure that it was the right color? Did you smell it, or give it a tiny little taste test? More than likely, you just assumed that what was on the label was actually inside the can.
This reminds me the Christian life.
When Jesus came to the Earth, many people appeared righteous on the exterior, but on the inside, they were filled with iniquity. Today there are many people who profess to be Christian who are the exact same way. They appear one way to the world, but are completely different inside of their hearts. Don’t be deceived, because not everything you see on the label is what’s inside the can.
Matthew 23 ²⁵ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. ²⁶ Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. ²⁷ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
There was a man who went into town to replace an old item that he had broken. After searching for a while in the store, he finally found a brand new one that was still in the wrapper, and paid for it at the register. When he finally got home, he excitedly opened it up, but to his surprise, he didn’t find what he had hoped for. Sitting in a brand new box was a beat up used item that had been returned to the store. It was all scratched up, with some broken pieces rattling around inside. It was obvious that somebody had returned it, but rather than throw it away, they repackaged it and put it right back on the shelf again.
People can be the exact same way. Rather than ridding themselves of sin and becoming a new creature inside of their hearts, they simply repackage the old sinner in a brand new wrapper. Jesus rebuked the hypocrisy that was going on amongst certain Jews, as the disciples rebuked hypocrisy that was going on among Christians.
2 Corinthians 11 ¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
In the Christian Life, we are supposed to transform from a sinner into a saint, which requires a complete change inside the heart. But rather than change sinful behavior, some people simply change their clothes. You might see them wearing a three-piece suit, or other religious outfits and attire. You might even see them wearing a name tag listing all of their religious titles! The vanity of man is incredible. They can dress the part, they can even act the part, but the true Jew is one inwardly, who serves God from the heart.
Romans 2 ²⁸ For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Jesus spoke out about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, but they don’t have a monopoly on it, because it can be easily found in many Church bodies today. God hates hypocrisy, whether it comes from a Christian or anyone else. God is impartial and he will treat everybody the same. You must remember that the Apostle Paul had been a Pharisee, but his life completely changed. He repented of his sins, and became a new creature in Christ Jesus. Many people will claim to follow Christ, but He will eventually turn them away because of their impenitence.
Matthew 7 ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Rather than possessing works that result from a penitent heart, many people display religious activities just to be seen.
“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,” Matthew 23:5
“Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.” Luke 11:43
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”Matthew 6:5
Matthew 7 ⁵ Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Jesus rebuked another group of hypocrites in the following passage.
Matthew 22 ¹⁵ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. ¹⁶ And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. ¹⁷ Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? ¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? ¹⁹ Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. ²⁰ And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? ²¹ They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
There will be people in the church who openly reject the true teachings of our faith. When they turn away their ears from the truth, they will shroud themselves in their own religious hypocrisy. They will appear to be virtuous, but no longer possess those qualities in their heart. They will love and believe a lie, and become a liar themself.
1 Timothy 4 ¹ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Religious hypocrisy is feigning to be what you are not. It’s the outward display of virtues that you do not actually possess in your heart. Not everything that you see on the outside, is what’s actually going on within. It might appear like your favorite pop, but on the other hand, you might find something completely different…..
……Inside the Can
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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