Preaching on Hypocrisy
A subtle yet devastating sin that can permeate our hearts and hinder our witness: Hypocrisy. As our introduction aptly describes, hypocrisy is akin to acting on a stage, pretending to be something we are not. It is the wearing of a mask, concealing our true selves and deceiving those around us, and ultimately ourselves. Tragically, many who profess to be Christians fall into this trap.
Hypocrisy has inflicted immense damage on the work of the Lord and will continue to do so unless we confront and eradicate this tendency to act, to be insincere in our faith. To truly please God, we must tear down the facade and reveal our authentic selves before Him and before others.
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I. WE MUST HATE HYPOCRISY.
A. We must hate hypocrisy (Psalm 119:113). The Psalmist declares, "I hate the double-minded, but I love your law." We are called to abhor this duplicity and not to associate with those who practice it. We must not sit and walk with hypocrites (Psalm 26:4). For the hypocrite deceives, just as:
1. Jacob who deceived his father (Genesis 27:19-24). Jacob's calculated deception to obtain Isaac's blessing serves as a stark example of the lengths to which hypocrisy can go.
2. David pretended to be crazy (1 Samuel 21:13-15). Faced with danger, David feigned madness, a temporary act of deception for self-preservation.
B. Hypocrisy leads many to sin. It creates a false impression and can lead others astray, as seen in:
Like Peter's (Galatians 2:13-14). Peter, out of fear of the circumcision party, withdrew and separated himself from the Gentiles, compelling even Barnabas to go astray with his hypocrisy. His actions contradicted the gospel of grace and created division.
C. The hypocrite harms his neighbor with his mouth (Proverbs 11:9). Their words, though seemingly pious or well-intentioned, often conceal ulterior motives and can inflict damage.
II. WE MUST ABANDON HYPOCRISY.
To walk in truth, we must actively reject hypocrisy in all its forms.
Therefore, when we help, let no one know about it (Matthew 6:2-3). Jesus taught that our acts of charity should be done in secret, not for public acclaim.
The same goes for when we pray (Matthew 6:5-6). Let us pray to ask God, not to be seen by men. Our prayers should be a sincere communion with our Father, not a performance for others.
Also when we fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Let us not go around teaching that we have fasted. Our spiritual disciplines should be marked by humility, not by a desire for recognition.
When judging another person, let us be careful not to fall into the same sin as he (Matthew 7:5). Because being in the same condition as him and wanting to judge him, we fall into hypocrisy. We must first deal with the log in our own eye before attempting to remove the speck from our brother's eye.
Many profess to honor and praise God (Matthew 15:7). But the truth is that their hearts are far from God. Because they do not submit to God's will. Their outward expressions of devotion are empty if their hearts are not truly aligned with Him.
III. WE MUST NOT PRETEND OUR FAITH.
1 Timothy 1:5. True faith comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. They profess to be Christians and obey God, but by their actions they deny Him (Titus 1:16). Our lives must be consistent with our profession of faith. Many outwardly appear to be good and righteous people, but they are not really so (Matthew 23:27-28), resembling whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside but are full of dead people's bones and everything unclean.
E. In order to please God, we must put away the sin of hypocrisy (1 Peter 2:1). We are called to rid ourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Otherwise, there is a place prepared for the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 12:56). (Note: The reference should likely be Luke 12:46 or Matthew 24:51, which speak of the fate of unfaithful servants.)
- Preaching on The Mind of Christ Philippians 2:5
- Preaching on Look At The Ant Proverbs 30:24, 25
- Preaching on Jealousy: Good and Bad
CONCLUSION:
A. Brothers and sisters, let us not continue to fall into this sin of hypocrisy, which has done much harm to the Lord's work and will continue to do so. If we do not abandon this sin, many people have not obeyed the gospel because of the hypocrisy of some brothers and sisters. Our insincerity can be a stumbling block for those who are seeking the truth.
B. If we do not abandon this sin, we will go to hell. Hypocrisy is a serious offense in the eyes of God and carries eternal consequences for those who persist in it without repentance.
C. Let us be faithful to God by being sincere in our faith. Our devotion should be genuine, our actions consistent with our words, and our hearts fully surrendered to Him. May we cast off all pretense and walk in the light of truth, reflecting the sincerity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
