Luke 12:1-21 Causes & Cures of Hypocrisy

 

Intro: A man who was who was traveling on a dinner flight, w/ a particular AIRLINE – was startled when he opened his prepackaged meal, & right on top of his salad he saw an enormous roach.

When he got home, he wrote an indignant letter to the president of that

airline. A few days later, a special delivery letter came from the president.

He was all apologies. "This was very unusual, but don't worry. I want to assure you that that particular airplane has been fumigated. In fact, all the seats and upholstery have been stripped out. We have taken disciplinary action against the stewardess who served you that meal, and she may even be fired. It is highly probable that this particular aircraft will be taken out of service. I can assure you that it will never happen again. And I trust that you will continue to fly with us."

Well the man was very impressed by such a letter until he noticed that by accident, the letter he had written had stuck to the back of the president's letter.

When he looked at his own letter he saw a note at the bottom that said,

"Reply with the regular roach letter."- HYPOCRISY

We Saw in our study last time where Jesus warned His DISCIPLES against the LEAVEN OF THE PAHARISEES which is Hypocrisy

  1. Noted in that study that the word Hypocrite – Hypocrites in the Greek = to play act - actors in the Theater .

B) Men who wore a mask to play a part - We also Noted that Hypocrisy

can manifest it self in various forms

C)Today we want to talk about the CAUSES & CURES OF HYPOCR.

Jesus identifies the CAUSE OF HYPOCRISY IN V. 4 Fear of Man

  1. What causes people to appear to be what they are not – to put on an act ?

    2. FEARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK

  2. See it on both sides / some try to appear more spiritual than they really are for fear that they won’t be accepted

A woman wanting to impress her pastor when he came to visit, said to her little girl, "Honey, go get the book that Mommy loves so much." The little girl came back carrying the new J.C. Penny Catalog.

b) some try to appear more spiritual than they really are for fear that they

won’t be ACCEPTED

  1. Others will try to appear less spiritual – perhaps at work or school or w/ certain friends – so that their not REJECTED
  1. So they won’t carry their Bible w/ them to school – or read it at lunch – because they don’t want people thinking they are a JESUS FREAK
  1. All because of the Fear of Man – What are people going to think about me if I show my true colors
  1. The truth of the matter is this: We would worry a lot less what people think about us / if we realized how little they actually do think of us !!!!
  1. Listen : People are not thinking about you or talking about you near as much as you think !!!!!
  1. Your life / what you wore today – not the popular topic at the dinner table

F) Here is the thing – we are really into ourselves so we get all concerned about what we are going to wear / what people might think if we do this/ that

    1. Truth of the matter is that most people could careless

 

 

 

BIBLE SAYS THE FEAR OF MAN IS A SNARE !!!!!! Trip you up every time !!!!! David to behave like a mad man before King Achish

Aa) PETER to deny the Lord 3 times

  1. Most of you have probably heard of Wally Amos / "Famous Amos" cookie guy./ Wally Amos' company grew from a one-man business in 1975 to an $80 million success story.
  2. But, by the mid 1980's, reality caught up. The company began to experience a cash-flow crunch.
  1. Then he made a deadly mistake. Listen to what he says,

"When I reached the point where I was on the verge of losing the company, I started acting out of fear. When you do that, Fear clouds your vision. Your can't see clearly."

C)Eventually, he lost his company, all because fear gained control of his life.

D) THE FEAR OF MAN IS A SNARE / A cause of HYPOCRISY

 

Now in the case of the disciples it was a little more serious Persecution was in the wings – So Jesus said don’t fear those who can kill the body

  1. Don’t be AFRAID OF MEN/ Those who can hurt you physically
  2. In fact in v.11,12 Jesus tells them that when they do get dragged before the authorities & magistrates – don’t worry about the answer / H.S.
  1. Awesome thing – situation where you just don’t know what to say or how to respond - H.S. – gives word of wisdom
  1. Story of Danny – neat Christian boy in the 7th grade at a public middle school. Great kid – Bible to school- desk -
  1. 1st day Science teacher – who was an ATHIEST –mocked Danny – made a statement – by the end of semester – Prove Evolution right
  1. All semester long – went for it – pressure – make these little stabs & Danny for being a Christian – carrying his bible
  1. Danny hung in there didn’t budge or give into the pressure - finally last day the semester - ULTIMATE TEST – THE EGG

Class what is this Egg / Danny EGG SIR / PRAY …… / PRAY OUT LOUD

  1. Pray – God will make it not break – what do / Ok Sir – Break into 1000 pieces & pray that my teacher drops dead!!!!!

1) TEACHER – Looked at Danny … EGG … AGAIN / Class dismissed

So Jesus identifies what is sometimes the cause of Hypocrisy – Being afraid of men / overly concerned of what People are thinking about you

Now lets consider the CURE – 2 THINGS : 1ST V. 5 FEAR GOD who is thinking about you constantly .

Note : v. 6,7 "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

  1. The sparrow is a very COMMON little creature/ Five were worth only a 1/2 penny at that time.

B) But God Knows when one falls - God oversees the LEAST little detail of

His creation/

  1. Mt 6:26 26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

C) Here is the difference - God is their creator.... But He is YOUR Father

  1. IF He makes note every time a sparrow falls, THEN how much more is He concerned with YOU

SO - Don't be afraid of men – for the Lord declares in Zechariah 2:8 Whoever

touches you – touches the apple of HIS EYE !!!!

VERSE 7 God cares about you so much that even the # of your hairs are numbered – Hair cut - 997 hairs left .

  1. Told in Psalm 139 – thoughts out number the sand -

  2. Jeremiah 29: 11 told what kind of thoughts they are – not of evil/ good & perish to give you a future & a hope !!!!

  1. Now we can grieve the Lord –w/ our actions especially w/ things like Hypocrisy –

  1. but this gives us an indication of His Hearts DESIRE - Good not evil give you a future & a Hope !!!!

  2. 6yr. Old boy was acting up in Sunday school – told by his teacher – Young man – God is watching you all the time .

    3. 1) Daddy – my Sunday school teacher said that God is watching me all the time is that true ? Why say that ? - Acting up

  3. Dad thought for a minute – what kind of thought do I want to put in his little mind - Fear or Hope?

  1. Yes son it is true – you see God loves you so much that he can’t take His EYES OFF YOU !!!!

SO JESUS SAYS DON’T FEAR MAN BUT FEAR GOD !!!!!

But what is meant by having a fear of God ? Great misunderstanding

  1. Is it merely a Healthy Reverence & Respect that motivates us to live in such a way that do not want to grieve God

  2. Or is it a HOLY TERROR–realizes that He CAN SEND ME TO HELL

  1. I think it is Both – although the latter is not one that we like to talk about much today/ but we see both ideas in this passage

In v. 4,& 5 Jesus says don’t fear man …. Who can kill the body -Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

  1. But then in v. 6,7 He says that God loves you so much He is always thinking about you & knows the # of hairs on your head!!!

B)Now v. 5 Reminds of an important part of God’s NATURE – He is HOLY / RIGHTEOUS / HE IS THE ALMIGHTY GOD / MOST HOLY

  1. He is LIGHT in Him is NO DARKNESS

  1. Or as Hebrews 12:29 puts it Our God is a CONSUMMING FIRE !!!!

Picture the Children of Israel at the base of Mt. Sinai – Moses has gone up to meet w/ God – receive the Ten Commandments

  1. Mountain was filled w/ fire / darkness fell over the people & there was a whirlwind thunder & lightning / – sounds like a trumpet blast

B) Anyone who touched the base of the Mt. Would be killed – die

  1. Moses trembled & the people were afraid – let not God speak to us lest we die!!!!!!

  1. Or forgetting that this IS THE same God flooded the earth that He had made because of the wickedness upon it !

    2. 1) Because of His HOLY NATURE – HE CANNOT CO-EXIST W/ SIN

  2. Same God Rained down fire on Sodom & Gomorrah - / or w/ one quick move destroyed the Egyptian army –

  3. In book of Rev. men will cry out for the mountains to fall on them to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb.

Many People want to ignore this side of God – Ignore the Reality that He is Holy & RIGHTEOUS / JUST JUDGE / Judge world of their sin!

If more Christians took seriously the HOLINESS of God – we would see a lot less CARNALITY / COMPROMISE / & HYPOCRISY in the church

  1. So v. 5 Reminds us that He is Holy Righteous Judge / but v.6,7 Remind us of His HEART - HE IS A LOVING FATHER

    2. B) So How do we RECONCILE THE TWO ? Does God have a Dr. Jekel & Mr. Hyde Complex ? OF COURSE NOT !!!!!!!

  2. Because He is HOLY He HATES SIN / But Because He is LOVING – He LOVES THE SINNER !!!!

  3. Several months ago 14 yr. Old Mitchell Johnson & 11 yr. Old Andrew Golden murdered 5 students at their middle school – ( reason break up)

  1. Now you wouldn’t expect the arresting officers to respond by saying I know you guys have had a bad day – girls were mean – let you off

  1. Nor would you be satisfied if a Judge gave them 1 weeks restriction & said Boys will be Boys/ NO WAY !!!!! JUSTICE

  1. In fact many people are out raged that these guys are being tried as minors which means that they can will get out at age 18

  1. When a Crime has been committed – we want JUSTICE !!!!

In the same way Because God is HOLY & JUST – God He can’t wink at sin or overlook it – nor should we expect Him to ( Not JUST)

  1. Bible declares that the wages of sin is death – that all have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God / Penalty or Judgement is DEATH

  2. But Because of God’s Love for the sinner – He has made Provision / He sent His Son Jesus to Pay the Penalty – give His Life

  1. Because Jesus was a Perfect sinless sacrifice – His death Satisfied the Justice of God .

  1. Price was Paid – anyone who would Believe sins forgiven / guilt ..

  2. Would I give Aaron - No way !!!!! But God did give Jesus / made Provision - If a person rejects that provision – seal their own fate

  1. God has every right to cast them into Hell!!!!

 

So the idea of the Fear of God being a Healthy Rev. & respect that says I don’t want to do anything thing that might hurt God is accurate

  1. BECAUSE When I realize that God is Holy & Righteous / He is a consuming fire that He so hates sin – affects on man

  2. But He also so Loved the sinner / the world that he gave His ……Son / that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have ….. life

  1. I respond to Him out of a Love that says because of what you did for me I want to live for you because you have been so gracious to me!!

  1. High school girl was out playing min. golf w/ some friends when another boy from school showed up & invited to a party- alcohol etc.

  1. Even though some of the other kids were into going – this girl declared that she didn’t want to go

  1. The Boy teased her saying – Are you afraid that your dad might hurt you if you go - her reply – no I am afraid I might hurt HIM….. go!!!!!!!!!

D) That is the idea behind a fear that results from a True respect & Rev.

So First cure is don’t be afraid of men – what they think – in actuality they are not thinking about you very much at all – into themselves

  1. But FEAR GOD who loves you so much that He is always thinking about you – knows the # of hairs on your head!!!

 

2nd cure for Hypocrisy found in v.8 "Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God

  1. DON’T BE AFRAID TO CONFESS THE LORD
  2. New Job – first day let people know that you are a Christian / Go on record that you are a BELIEVER
  1. invite the people you work w/ to go to church / won’t ask you to party
  1. Note this JESUS says if you confess me before men – I will confess you…before my FATHER !!!!

Confess means to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dependence on him for salvation, and our attachment to him

  1. It means to not be ashamed of Jesus or afraid to go on record of Being a follower of His !!!!
  2. (Romans 10:9-10). "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation"
  3. Outward confession with the mouth is a reflection of genuine belief in the heart. /
  4. A true disciple is willing to openly identify w/Christ what ever the cost & wherever he is
  1. Whether it is w/ a fellowship believers, or a group of serious inquirers,

or a hostile crowd of unbelievers.

In 1885 in UGANDA three Christian boys, ranging in age from eleven to fifteen, were forced to give their lives for Christ because they would not renounce their faith in Him.

The king was adamantly opposed to Christianity and ordered the boys’ execution if they did not recant. At the place of execution the boys asked that the following message be given to the king:

"Tell his majesty that he has put our bodies in the fire but we won’t be long in the fire. Soon we will be with Jesus, which is much better. But ask him to repent & change his mind or he will land in a place of eternal fire."

Because of the boys’ testimony that day, forty adults trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, and indirectly countless more converts were won to the Lord over a period of many years.

By 1887 a large number of other Christians were martyred, many of them inspired by the fearless, testimony of those three boys. None of those martyrs knew much theology or much about the Bible, because most of them were illiterate and all of them were relatively new believers.

But they had a deep love for Jesus that they refused to hide, no matter what the cost. As is nearly always the case, those who died were replaced several-fold by new converts who came to Christ because of their testimony!

 

If you Confess Him / He will confess You / flip side – Deny Him – He will deny you One commentators interesting insights here

It is possible to deny Christ in many ways that are short of verbally and publicly renouncing Him.

It is possible to deny Christ before men by silence, by failing to witness for Him and trying to be an unnoticed Christian- whose friends and neighbors, and perhaps even family, would never suspect of being a believer.

It is also possible to deny Christ by actions, living like the rest of the world lives, with no higher standards or values.

It is possible to deny Christ by words, using the world’s profanity, vulgarity, and blasphemy.

 

What statement does your life make about your Believe in Christ ?

Now in v. 10 Jesus says something rather interesting - 10 "And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

  1. Son of man speaks of Jesus humanity – many didn’t understand who He was that He was the God in the flesh / MESSIAH

  2. Those who would speak against Christ – His humanity – those who rejected him & even crucified Him – that could be forgiven

1) That is why Jesus prayed Father forgive them for they know….do!

C) But He who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven

WHAT IS THIS BLASPHEMY OF THE H.S.? / Unpardonable sin

  1. I think the context of this passage gives us a great insight – linked w/ Denying Christ

    2. B) John 16: 7-9 7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: "of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

  2. The work of the Holy Spirit is to tell the world that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world/ Convict the world of sin / need of a Savior.

C) The BLASPHEMY of the Holy Spirit is the CONTINUAL REJECTION of that work of the Holy Spirit leading me to Jesus

  1. If I do not repent & ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins THEN I am left with NO means of dealing with my sins

D) So IF you are REJECTING Jesus today, then you are in the PROCESS of committing the unpardonable sin.

IF you die without accepting Jesus, THEN you have blasphemed the PERSON & WORK of the Holy Spirit and are left with no way of salvation

So the H.S. job is to Convict of sin & Draw to Christ – doing today

Some here who need to confess Christ / GO ON RECORD

  1. Forgive your sins / guilt renewed / come into your life

  2. Forgive every sin / Adultery / Abortion/ Drug Abuse / lying / stealing / cheating / gang banging /

  3. Only sin He will not forgive is the sin of failing to confess Christ

D) Do so today !!!!! Pray