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Text: Luke 6:39-49
This next portion of the sermon on the mount deals with hypocrisy as one of the most dangerous self-delusions around. The obvious definition of hypocrisy is that you say one thing and do another. The LORD defines the hypocrite as someone who calls him Lord, but won’t do what he says. You’ll find that in verse 46. He says this first of all because the nation of Israel was full of hypocrisy and hypocrites who believed because they were Jewish they were justified by God. They didn’t understand that God employed Israel in order to bring forth the Son of God. They were servants of God, but not heirs of God. And God would just as quickly cut off the nation of Israel for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness as He would cut off anyone for neglecting the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. So this sermon is written down for our learning as well. Hypocrisy is not a racial problem, it’s a sin problem. It’s a heart problem that becomes a mental problem, a social problem and an eternal problem. Here are the symptoms of hypocrisy.
- You say one thing and do another.
- You believe you’re a teacher without having mastered any skills.
- You justify obvious disqualifications in your own life with your “knowlege” of the Bible.
- You grossly underestimate God’s view of behavior, particularly your own behavior.
- You really believe you’re something you’re not.
Fall – Blind leaders of the blind (vss 39-40)
- The blind leading the blind is a perfect explanation for hypocrisy. In which I’ve got a couple of questions.
- Where do you think you’re going?
- Only someone delusional would think it’s a good idea to lead the pack when you can’t see where you’re going.
- The obvious qualification is that if I’m leading, I should be able to see where I’m going.
- That’s the thing about hypocrisy. You justify obvious disqualifications in your life with your knowledge of the Bible. That’s exactly what the Pharisees did.
- But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. … If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
- And why are you leading people in areas you have no mastery? Even if you know where you want to go, you aren’t equipped to get there much less lead anyone.
- It’s a narcissistic delusion to overlook your obvious disqualification from leading people while presuming to lead people.
- Jesus would say you make your little group twofold the child of hell.
- You’re able to locate an excessive amount of guilt in people you don’t like, but can’t seem to relate to your own sin.
- Jesus and James both said this group will receive greater damnation. James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
- Perfection is being like the master. You think yourself a master and yet you have a master. You expect people to follow your teaching, yet you don’t follow your master’s teaching.
- Jesus defines a Christian’s perfection as being like his master. Really any profession this is true.
- This is why the LORD said so much about being like your Father in and being the Highest and being perfect.
Failure – Remove the beam in your own eye first (vss 41-42)
- The inability to self-reflect in any meaningful way.
- When it comes to what we believe, most of us simply call right whatever is familiar to us. And therefore we call wrong something that is unfamiliar to us. Sure, we’ll find some verses that agree and “study” those, but we’re not actually getting any more light. When is the last time you learned something from the Bible that transformed your life? It helped you remove sin from your life. Or it gave you a new perspective and therefore some new guidelines to conduct your life?
- I ask these questions because it is the nature of hypocrisy to avoid self-reflection in a real way. Most of us don’t have the character to ask ourselves any real questions about our lives. We’re all comfortable where we are and change is hard. Second, most of us couldn’t stomach the idea that we might be wrong in areas we’ve already made lots of life decisions about. The irony is that we seem to be incredibly diligent when it comes to someone else’s problems. Because of that, hypocrisy is one of the most damning conditions of the human soul. And the LORD Jesus Christ deals with that hypocrisy here.
Fruit – Tree is known by its fruit (vss 43-45)
- Tree known by its fruit which means a lemon tree is called a lemon tree because it’s identified by its fruit. A mulberry tree is a mulberry tree because that’s the fruit. An apple tree is called an apple tree b/c it’s known by its fruit. You could also say a tree is called by its fruit. The implication is that so is the hypocrite.
- Fruit may take time to produce. The fruit of their lips is what is eventually produced.
- Ye shall know them by their fruits.
- Proverbs 18:20-21 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
- The mouth of the righteous is a tree of life.
- Tree illustration
- Matthew 3:7-12 was John the Baptist’s warning to the religious leaders.
- Matthew 12:31-37… the Lord Jesus Christ’s warning to the religious leaders.
- Hypocrisy truly believes it’s something that it’s not.
Foundation – Don’t call me Lord and ignore me (vss 46-49)
- And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
- Matthew records it this way, 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.
- The Shepherd knows his sheep – John 10:3-4, 14-18, 24-29. When the shepherd calls, his sheep respond.
- Does the Lord know you or are you impersonating a Christian? This is why Paul will say, examine yourselves to see whether ye be in the faith.
- Hypocrites grossly underestimate God’s view of behavior, particularly their own behavior. They hear, but they don’t do.
- Hearers only are headed for a fall
- Matthew 7:26-27 …great was the fall of it…
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 …great falling away first…
- Romans 11:11-12
- Hebrews 6:1-6
- Galatians 5:1-6
Treating hypocrisy
- Get qualified by the master in verse 40.
- Get the beam out of your own eye in verse 42.
- It’s the courage to be wrong and accept that.
- Be courageous when it comes to self-reflection.
- Make the obvious judgment about your life that everyone else already knows. A tree is known by it’s fruit.
- Stop reading history, stop reading the Bible, stop watching movies as though you’re the hero or the victim, but start seeing yourself as the perpetrator. Even if it’s untrue, it’ll prevent you from being that.
- Quit thinking what you think you know about the Bible makes you saved or important. Start doing the Bible.
