Lesson 12 15 October, 2017 "Woe Unto You... Hypocrites!" Lesson Scope: Luke 11:14-54, Luke 12:1-12 References in brackets refer to Luke 11 and 12 unless otherwise noted Lesson Focus This lesson stands in contrast to the last lesson, in which Jesus gave teaching on how to offer effective prayers. In our lesson today, Jesus denounces hypocrisy, the sin of a religious exterior that covers an unregenerate heart. The Pharisees sought to maintain a strict observance of the Law. This stood in contrast to the chief priests and rulers, who under the Greek influence of the day had a low view of the Law. The name Pharisee means "separated," and their influence helped keep Israel, as a people, separate from the pagan philosophies of their day. The problem with the Pharisees was that they were satisfied with a legal observance of the Law, even if they did not live up to the spirit of the Law. They came up with guidelines to help people live out the requirements of the Law. These, it seems, they held as important as the Law itself. The end result was some serious inconsistencies they were willing to overlook. Jesus denounced the scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers for their hypocrisy. Although many today are deceiving themselves and others, God will ultimately expose their true condition. It is important to have a correct view of hypocrisy. Even though we all fail and need forgiveness, to take a stand that condemns sin is not hypocrisy. To practice separation from the world is not a hypocritical attempt to look better than we really are. To support church guidelines even though we do not have personal conviction is not hypocrisy either. Hypocrisy is a deliberate act of seeking to appear spiritual while nurturing a willful and impenitent heart. Lesson Aim: To warn against the sin of hypocrisy. Theme Verse: Matthew 5:20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Lesson Text Inverted Values Luke 11:37-44 And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. 39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? 41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. 42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. 44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. Insincere Motives Luke 11:45-54 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. 46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. 49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. 52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. 53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: 54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
Inevitable Exposure Luke 12:1-9 In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Questions for Study Inverted Values 1. What was the failure of the Pharisees? 2. Of what things are we to give alms? 3. How can we know when our attention to details is a misplaced emphasis? Insincere Motives 4. Why might the blood of all the prophets have been required of Jesus' generation? What is the message from this for us? 5. How might we take away the key of truth and hinder those seeking to enter the narrow way? Inevitable Exposure 6. How does Jesus' reference to "them that kill the body" relate to the surrounding verses? 7. What will a proper fear of God do for us? 8. How might we become guilty of denying Jesus before men?
Analyzing the Passage In His teaching in 11:36, Jesus stressed the need to have the whole body full of light. In 11:37, one of the Pharisees who was listening invited Him to his house. The Pharisee marveled that Jesus did not wash before He sat to meat. This washing was one of the rituals added to the Law. Jesus responded by continuing with His earlier theme of the greater importance of inner purity. In 11:41, it seems Jesus is saying, "Give of those things that are within" Or dedicate your inner self, the thought is that to make the outside pure, we must make the inside pure. In this discourse, Jesus pronounced six woes, three on the Pharisees and three on the lawyers. This word woe is an exclamation of grief, very Similar to the word alas. Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites. They were like actors or stage players who acted out a certain role for the benefit of an audience. Jesus told the lawyers that they had taken away the key of knowledge. Their accumulated knowledge gained through study of the Law should have enabled them to open the doors of people's understanding. Instead their way of interpreting the Law allowed people to ignore God's commands and make their position a stumbling block to the true seeker. Principles and Applications Inverted Values 1. Religious activity in itself does not guarantee a godly heart (11:39). Our religious activity and everyday practice should be the outworking of an inner experience. When this is not the case, then religion becomes a cover-up for an unregenerate heart. Even a sincere Christian must work with his carnal nature. It is important that we maintain a penitent, workable spirit when approached about our failures. When we become defensive, we start on the road that turns religion into a covering. 2. God desires external expressions of our inner love to Him (11:40-41). God is as concerned about our inner condition as He is about our outward appearance. When the control center of our life is under God's direction, then what comes out will be pleasing to God. This does not mean we will never fail, but because our motives and desires are right, God will willingly forgive us and continue working with us to produce a life that is genuine and brings glory to God. 3. Hypocrites have wrong priorities (11:42). Because the hypocrite's inner life is not being fully directed by God, his view of the issues of life is
faulty. He can easily be more concerned about appearance than about real substance. While one hypocrite finds a false security in practicing church standards, another may criticize the same standards as putting too much emphasis on externals. When social, financial, or any other status becomes the priority of our life, it will compete with our loyalty to God, and may cause us to become inconsistent in our practice. Insincere Motives 4. Hypocrites lack compassion (11:46). Jesus made it clear to those who brought the woman taken in adultery that their own failures should have affected their attitude toward her. When people fail and come under church censure, we need to be careful that our support for the church and our hatred for sin do not make us critical toward the person who failed. When such a person in repentance seeks reconciliation, we must not on a personal level set the requirements so high that we require more of him than of ourselves. 5. Hypocrites stifle the spiritual growth of those under their care (11:52). People tend to interpret the Bible by the life of those who teach it and claim to live by it. If those under our care see serious inconsistencies, it can produce a wrong concept of the requirements of truth. Teaching our children that it is important to be part of the church but then ignoring its direction ourselves, will close their minds to the direction of the church. 6. A hypocrite is not teachable (11:53-54). Because a hypocrite practices self-deception, it is hard for him to understand or accept reproof and direction. Since his carnal nature has not been brought into subjection, it will rise in self-defense. In our minds, do we excuse our failures because those who pointed them out have an outstanding weakness? Truth is truth even when it comes from sources we may think are not qualified to share it. Inevitable Exposure 7. Hypocrisy grows quickly and quietly (12:1). Because hypocrisy is hidden behind a good appearance, its spread may not be noticed immediately. If we start to willfully allow sin in one area of life perhaps an unforgiving spirit, enjoying worldly music, indulging our lusts through printed material, wrong use of technology, or any other area, we will discover that such hidden sin, like leaven, cannot be contained. It will spread to other areas of our life if not repented of. 8. No hypocrite can deceive God (12:2). God will work to expose hidden sin. When unplanned circumstances bring hidden sin to light, it is no accident. As God's people pray for the purity of the church, God will work to answer that prayer. When men stand before God, all sin will be revealed. It
is the mercy of God that brings hidden sin to light and allows the hypocrite to clear his conscience with God and man before the final Judgment. 9. Desiring God's approval more than man's approval helps us avoid hypocrisy (12:4-5). Peter discovered that in his own strength, he could not stand up to the pressure from those around him, and he denied the Lord. After he received the Holy Spirit, he had a new courage and boldness. We also need the infilling power of the Spirit to be able to withstand the pressure of men. With the aid of God's Spirit, we can have an eternal vision that will set the pressures of this life in proper perspective. 10. Confessing Christ openly helps us avoid hypocrisy (12:8-9). When we declare our allegiance openly, we then have something to live up to. Others will expect us to live above sin. Not only do we have the encouragement of what others expect, but we have heaven's blessing. When we identify ourselves as a child of God, and live like one, we then are recipients of the resources needed to live above sin. Important Teachings 1. Religious activity in itself does not guarantee a godly heart (11:39). 2. God desires external expressions of our inner love to Him (11:40-41). 3. Hypocrites have wrong priorities (11:42). 4. Hypocrites lack compassion (11:46). 5. Hypocrites stifle the spiritual growth of those under their care (11:52). 6. A hypocrite is not teachable (11:53-54). 7. Hypocrisy grows quickly and quietly (12:1). 8. No hypocrite can deceive God (12:2). 9. Desiring God's approval more than man's approval helps us avoid hypocrisy (12:4-5). 10. Confessing Christ openly helps us avoid hypocrisy (12:8-9). 11. Hypocrisy thrives on an overemphasis on one's reputation (11:43). Answers to Questions 1. What was the failure of the Pharisees? They were mostly concerned with the externals. Their unwillingness to deal with heart issues resulted in serious inconsistencies and double standards, which they were willing to overlook. 2. Of what things are we to give alms? The word alms carries the idea of being compassionate. When we have dedicated our inner being to God, then that which flows out of us to benefit others' lives will be the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. This type of alms
will add a blessing to material alms we may give to others. 3. How can we know when our attention to details is a misplaced emphasis? It seems the Pharisees' attention to details was in part an attempt to balance their shortcomings in other areas. It was also motivated by a desire to make a good impression on people. Details are important. A brother who is concerned about details in an effort to protect the spiritual life of the church should not be labeled a Pharisee because of his concerns. Jesus said, "These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." 4. Why might the blood of all the prophets have been required of Jesus' generation? What is the message from this for us? Jesus was the climax to the succession of prophets God sent to warn His people. Jesus said that the men of Nineveh and the queen of the south would condemn this generation for their rejection of Him (11:31, 32). The men of Jesus' generation had a wealth of history to help them understand the errors of their fathers. But they were choosing to reject that record and reject Jesus yet besides. The writer of Hebrews in comparing the Old Testament to the New says, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3). Also in Hebrews 10:29 the writer adds, "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God?" The consequences for us are not much different if we despise the person and work of Christ. 5. How might we take away the key of truth and hinder those seeking to enter the narrow way? Inconsistencies in our conduct can be confusing to those seeking to understand God's requirements. A callous attitude toward those who are new in the faith and those we feel are oversensitive or perhaps overzealous could turn some away. We might fail to make practical applications that run counter to the flesh in our teaching and preaching. 6. How does Jesus' reference to "them that kill the body" relate to the surrounding verses? One motive for hypocrisy is fear of men or a desire for the praise of men. But God alone is to be feared, and to be accepted or rejected at His judgment seat is the all-important verdict. When we are there, what men did or threatened to do to us will mean nothing at all. 7. What will a proper fear of God do for us? It will give us a proper perspective of life and of eternity. It will help us evaluate the issues of life from God's law, not from man's opinions.
8. How might we become guilty of denying Jesus before men? There are many ways. The most obvious is to deny our faith to save our life. In a lesser way we may be tempted to hide our faith to avoid standing out in society. Do we pray in public before we eat? Do we dress like the world when we travel? In our business contacts, is it more important to appear professional than to leave the impression of a simple servant of Christ? Do we want the world to view us as pilgrims and strangers? If not, are we not being ashamed and is that not the same as denying Christ? Summarizing the Lesson Even though we as Christians have been delivered from the power of sin, we must deal with our carnal nature with its natural attraction to sin. Not every sin requires a public confession. Most can be dealt with by privately confessing them to God. However, if we want to avoid hypocrisy, we must maintain an openness with God and our fellow men about our life. "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after." May God help us to not be among those who have secret sins to face at the Judgment. Research Guide 1. Read Acts 5:1-11. This shows how seriously God views hypocrisy and the deception that often goes with it. 2. Look up "Hypocrisy" in Nave's Topical Bible.