Today on the Verdict with Pastor John Monroe.
Now none of us like hypocrites. We all say we like authenticity. We want honesty. And here in Matthew chapter twenty-three, we learn that Jesus sharply and strongly condemns hypocrisy. Welcome to the Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe.
No one likes a hypocrite, but the truth is that most of us have some areas of inconsistency in our lives. Today on the verdict, we're studying the very strong warnings of Jesus against hypocrisy, so we can be people of authentic faith and experience lives that have been truly transformed by Him.
Now, with the final lesson of our study in this part of Matthew, here's Pastor John Monroe. A common reason for not coming to church is that the church is full of hypocrites. As a pastor, I quickly and readily concede that there are hypocrites in churches. We read last time from Matthew 21 that hypocrisy is a serious sin, and is condemned sharply and strongly by Jesus. Does this surprise you?
You may have expected him to strongly denounce the adulterers, the corrupt tax collectors, the cheats, and the thieves, but this sin of hypocrisy is being committed by the religious leaders who knew better. Jesus exposes the difference between their words and their deeds.
So let's listen again to Jesus. And as we hear his words, ask God to reveal any hypocrisy in our hearts. First of all, one characteristic of the hypocrite is that there's a difference between telling and doing, a difference between what the hypocrite says and what he or she actually does. Second difference is a difference between the spiritual. And the material.
One of the characteristics of the hypocrite is materialism. Is love of money. The hypocrite loves money, and they use religion. To exploit people for their own benefit, for their own material benefit, Paul refers to those who are peddlers of God's word. Second Corinthians two.
They use religion. They use the church to manipulate people to get what they want. The difference between the spiritual and the material. Here's the third one. The difference between focusing on the minors and focusing on the majors.
Just think of it. Applying these things to yourself. Are you someone in your faith in the Christian life? You're majoring on the minors, and in so doing, you're neglecting that which is major and that which is important. Matthew twenty-three, verse twenty-three.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law—justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat! And swallowing a camel.
The difference between focusing on the minors and focusing on the majors. Here are the scribes and the Pharisees. They in order to give a tithe of all they have, they in fact give a tithe of the herbs, the mint and dill and cumin. Was that wrong? No, that's not wrong.
What's their problem? They neglect the very essence of the law. Oh, they are very pedantic. They're very particular. They're very meticulous.
Notice, I'm even giving ten percent of the herbs that I have. Jesus is saying, "Yeah, that's good, but in so doing, you're neglecting the weightier matters of the law. What are these?" Justice and mercy and faithfulness. That's the third one. The difference between focusing on the minors and focusing on the majors.
Here's the fourth one, and they're all tied together. The difference between the outer and the inner person. Verse twenty-five. 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 whitewashed 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. Wow! Is that direct teaching? You see, that doesn't sound very loving. This is coming from the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the very essence of love.
The difference between the external and the internal, the difference between the outer person and the inner person, here is a cup. That cup could be clean on the outside, but dirty and nasty in the inside. We've all had that experience in the restaurant, haven't we? We get a glass, we get a cup, and it seems clean. We look inside, and we realise there is dirt inside.
That's the point, isn't it? The Pharisees and the scribes look the part. They've got their long robes, they've got their phylacteries, they've got their tassels. They're giving their tithes and their long prayers in public. Very impressive, ah!
But there's a huge discrepancy. Jesus is saying between who they are externally and what they are internally. Let me ask you: what's most important? The long robes. Their long prayers, their traditions and interpretations of the law—outwardly they look very good, but inwardly, Jesus says.
You notice how strong he speaks. He says they're full of greed and self-indulgence. White-washed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. What a graphic picture of inner corruption! And wickedness, outwardly impressive, internally unclean.
What about you? You know, social media. With social media, it's very easy for people to present a certain image of them. People who go on these dating apps, I can look at someone, and they look very nice. They can find out that you're you're a Christian, and they say, "I'm a Christian.
I read my Bible. I go to church." They can act the part. They can look the part. They can speak the part. But some of you have found out, haven't you?
As you began to date someone like that, you realize, no, that's the outward shell. Outwardly impressive. But internally, they may be sleazy, deceitful, immoral, and dishonest—hypocrites. What's God's concern for you? How you look, what you say?
No, your heart, your heart. That's also true when we meet someone, isn't it? We're concerned. How is their heart? What's the what's the real person?
Is this person a phony, or is there authenticity there? You see, when the heart is right, the outward conduct and the words follow. But if the heart is wrong. There may be impressive words, impressive actions, but they are hypocrites. They're playing a part, and sooner or later, the true person comes to light, following external rules.
Ah, but it's the supernatural life of the Spirit of God in us which makes the change. What about you? But what your heart is it unclean? Are you a self-indulgent person? Jesus said these Pharisees were full of greed and self-indulgence.
Any of that in your life? Here's the last one: the difference between hard hearts and humble hearts. Verse twenty-nine. Woe to you! You are saying, "Is Jesus never going to stop saying this?" Here it is: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, "If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets." Thus, you witness against yourselves that your sons of those who murdered the prophets fill up then the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers! How are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore, I send you prophets and wise men and scribes.
Some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all of the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you. All these things shall come upon this generation. See, when it comes down to it, the hypocrite's heart is hard, rather than humble and soft. Oh, these scribes and Pharisees—they knew their biblical history, and they're saying.
We understand. We know our Bibles, and we know that God sent prophets, and they were killed and murdered. But we would never have done that. No. In fact, verse twenty-nine: they decorate the monuments of the righteous.
But the reality is, Jesus is saying they are murderous hypocrites, and they hate the true prophets of God. In fact, even as Jesus is speaking to them, they are plotting his death. They hate the Messiah, Christ. They're plotting to destroy and kill him. They say, "Oh, we're not like the people in the Old Testament who persecuted and killed and stoned the prophets.
We wouldn't have done that." And Jesus saying, "You're exactly like them." Did you notice what he said? You serpents, verse thirty-three. You brood of vipers. How are you to escape being sentenced to hell? And as we know, they're going to continue their murderous rejection of God's messengers, even the Messiah.
What hypocrisy! Hard hearts. Is evidence in your life of a hard heart? Resisting the truth, arguing with the truth. When you're reproved by someone, instead of humbly listening to the word of God, you resent it.
You get defensive. Your heart—that's a bad sign, isn't it? We sang a beautiful song. Speak to me. When God speaks to you, do you listen?
Do you humbly respond? Scripture says over and over again: Today, when you hear God's word, do not harden your heart. These men, in spite of the Messiah being in their midst, are hardening their heart, hating him, so that soon they're going to say, "Crucify him." You say, "What's the answer to this? Repentance. Hypocrites must repent." Isn't it wonderful that when our Savior comes to earth, He comes not to condemn us?
Because within all of our hearts, every single one of us, there's hypocrisy, isn't there? Don't deny it. Don't say you're different from others. You have pretended to be so spiritual. You put on that facade.
Was necessary repentance, and that was a problem with the Pharisees and the Scribes. They thought they were different from others. They thought they were separate from the sinners and the tax collectors. And Jesus, of course, said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Sick people go to the doctor. The righteous person, the healthy person, doesn't do it.
So when Jesus comes. He comes and he says, "I didn't come to save those who think they're righteous, but rather I came to save those who recognize that they are sinners." What does the hypocrite do? He or she focuses on the failings and the faults of others. They deflect the truth. They think they're immune, and as long as you continue.
In that attitude, and you are blind to your own failings and sins, there can be no true salvation. Because in true salvation, there is a repentance of your sin. The essence of the Christian faith is not trying to become a better person. The essence of the Christian faith is not going through the outward rituals. It begins by you as an individual and me as an individual confessing that I am sinful.
Yes, Lord, there is hypocrisy. Yes, I sometimes have greed and self-indulgence, and I I need forgiveness which only you can give. And we acknowledge our sin and we look to our magnificent Savior, who came to die for. Sinners was buried and rose again. Religion hypocrisy is trying to get to God by our own efforts.
I'll change my behavior. I'll go through some therapy. I'll adopt some religious rituals. I'll join a church. I'll do all of these good works, trying by yourself to achieve your salvation.
You'll never make it. Pelé, the great soccer player, said that this man, his name was George Best, was the greatest footballer in the world. He played for Manchester United. He played with Denis Law, Scotsman, Bobby Charlton, Englishman, front three, absolutely magnificent, fantastic player. But George Best had a problem, and ultimately, it was a problem that was going to kill him.
He liked to drink, and he became an alcoholic. And one time, after his career in football had ended, he was interviewed, and he said this: "He said, 'I can, I could beat every opponent, apart from alcohol. Unstoppable on the field.'" Absolutely brilliant, fast, tremendous dribbler of the ball, the passer of the ball. If he wasn't the best in the world, he certainly was among the top two or three. Could beat every opponent apart from alcohol, and he was going to die from his alcoholism, even though he had a transplant liver.
By yourself, you cannot beat your hypocrisy. By yourself, you cannot beat your alcoholism. By yourself, you can't beat that drug addiction. By yourself, you can't beat that greed and that immorality and whatever particular sin or sins you have. By yourself, you can never beat them.
See, the hypocrite thinks he can. The hypocrite thinks he or she doesn't have a problem. Can I tell you, as I've told you often, salvation is not something to be achieved, but rather freely received as an act of God's grace by acknowledging that you can't save yourself, and to know that our Lord Jesus Christ has done it all. His work is perfect for my salvation and your salvation. You're to turn from your sin and you're to embrace Christ as your savior and Lord.
Yes, turn from your hypocrisy. Admit that you are the sinner. Remember the Pharisee in the temple who was praying, and the tax collector was there, and the Pharisee's thanking God. He's not like this man. The man who was saved, who was justified.
He says, "God be what merciful to me, the sinner." You ever said that? Or you like the Pharisee? I've always been a Christian. I, I come from a wonderful home. I've been baptized.
I've joined the church. I've done all of this. But I'm asking you: Have you received Christ? And Jesus is saying, "Please listen. These are His words, not mine." That judgment is coming to those who reject Jesus.
Verse thirty-seven. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wing, and you were not willing. See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Woe to you!
It's a message of judgment. The scribes and the Pharisees are rejecting God's salvation, they're rejecting the Messiah, and judgment is coming. And Jesus is lamenting over Jerusalem. He wants to gather them as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but they are unwilling. We see the wonderful love of Jesus as he stands and pleads with them, but they do not come.
Jesus is about to leave the world. He says in verse thirty nine, "I tell you, you will not see me again." This house, meaning the temple, verse thirty eight, is going to be left to you desolate. And just a few years later, in A.D. seventy, that's exactly what happens. The Roman army comes and besieges Jerusalem.
They kill up to a million Jews. They set the temple on fire. They scatter the name of Israel. They have rejected the Messiah, and judgment has come. And the temple in Jerusalem is left desolate to this very day.
In chapter twenty-four, verse one, as we'll see next week, Jesus leaves the temple for the last time. No wonder he weeps over Jerusalem. They reject the Messiah. They will not see him again. His earthly ministry is almost rejected.
But did you know this in verse thirty-nine? The wonderful little word "until." I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." They reject the Messiah. Ah, but God never forgets His promises to His ancient people, and God has a future for Israel. And Jesus will return, and when He returns, Paul says in Romans 11, all Israel will be saved. Then the nation will save.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. A message of judgment, but today is a day of grace. Our Father and our God, we thank you for this passage. It's so convicting; it cuts right through some of our phoniness. And all of us here who are followers of Christ want to be authentic, and we pray now for your grace.
We thank you that you're a merciful God, that you're a forgiving God, and we thank you that salvation is found in Christ and Christ alone. We pray in Christ's name, Amen. This is the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There is still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us. From matters of truth and identity to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever.
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? This is tough teaching by Jesus, as he exposes the difference between hard hearts and humble hearts. He calls on you and me to repent, to live authentic lives, to reject hypocrisy. Is there any form of hypocrisy in your life? Praise God that Jesus comes to save us, not to condemn us.
But if we reject Jesus, judgment is certainly coming. You can't deceive God, so be honest before God. Repent of any hypocrisy and look to Christ and to Christ alone for salvation. Thanks for joining us today on the Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies.
Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
