Taking The Mask of Hypocrisy Off
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Taking The Mask of Hypocrisy Off
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
Sermon Theme Outline: Hypocrisy Exposed — Lessons from Matthew 23
Introduction
Many today live their lives trying to portray a perfect person image of themselves before others. This facade that many portray about who they are is not what God intended for anyone, it’s actually hypocrisy because on the outside they appear one way, and on the inside they are another and no one can see the real them because the mask they wear hides their real identity of who they actually are or become.
This is especially true in many religious circles, homes, marketplace, schools, and in the business world. Let’s look close as to what Jesus taught about hypocrisy in anyone’s life.
Text Outline: Matthew 23
- Theme: Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees — outwardly holy, inwardly corrupt.
- Truth: Hypocrisy is wearing a spiritual mask. It is pretending before men what we are not before God.
- Proposition: God calls His people to live in truth and holiness of heart, not just outward appearance.
I. Outward Appearance vs. Inward Reality
Jesus addresses the outward appearance and how all looked great on the outside but on the inside or their true identity as a person was quit different of what appeared before men.
- Matthew 23:27-28 — Whited sepulchers: beautiful outside, dead inside.
- Hypocrisy is simply pretending to be what you are not.
- Hypocrisy seeks the approval of others to make others think a certain way about the person.
Cross References:
Humans judge others based on physical qualities like looks or status, God judges people’s true character, intentions, and spiritual state.
- 1 Samuel 16:7 — Man looks on outward appearance, God looks on the heart.
The context is the prophet Samuel being told by God not to choose King David based on his brother Eliab’s impressive appearance, but to look deeper, as God does, to the heart of the matter. - Isaiah 29:13 — Lips honor God, but heart is far.
Outwardly a person may worship God by long prayers, worship songs, and even speaking the word of God with their lips, but God will always look at the heart of anyone who does those things because on the surface they may be doing those things to appear righteous and holy before others, but the Lord knows the truth of all persons true identity, weather it is real worship or a facade to appear before men. - 2 Timothy 3:5 — A form of godliness without the power.
The bible speaks of people who have a “form of godliness” but in reality their hearts are far from God. This is exactly what Jesus addressed in the religious Pharisees and Scribes that appeared righteous before all but were spiritually dead on the inside.
Application:
- Are we more concerned with how people see us than how God sees us? If so, there is hypocrisy in us before God and one must repent and ask God to forgive them and change their living to a life of truth before the Lord.
II. Religious Works Without True Obedience
- Matthew 23:23 — Tithing herbs, neglecting weightier matters: judgment, mercy, faith.
One may even do all kinds of religious acts to appear as if they were truly following God, but Jesus knows every motive as to why one does what may even seem to be the right thing to do, in the end it is still hypocrisy before God if ones heart is not pure and honest before the Lord. - They majored on minors but ignored true obedience.
Religious “acts” that make one feel good about their selves and look good before others are just minor acts while neglecting a true obedience to God and His word.
Cross References:
- Micah 6:8 — God requires justice, mercy, truth, and humility.
Living our lives however we want and ignoring what the Lord requires from us is not what God wants from any of us. God is expecting justice, mercy, truth, and true humility from all his children. - Hosea 6:6 — God desires mercy, not sacrifice.
The Lord is not interested in what we say or do to appear one way before others, but the Lord is more interested in what we do out of obedience toward God from a pure hearts before him. - James 1:22 — Be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
James reminds us that mere words won’t cut it before God, the Lord requires action that leads to obedience to the word of God.
Application:
- Outward rituals cannot replace a life of obedience. Saying and doing things that are contrary to the teachings of Jesus is missing the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
III. Seeking Praise of Men Instead of God
- Matthew 23:5-7 — They did works to be seen, loved titles, loved seats of honor.
If ones life is lived to impress others of how good our relationship is with God, then we are only seeking the praise of men and men will always admire people who portray a perfect life especially if that image they are portraying involves a perfect relationship with God. This religious mask must be removed and come clean before God as we humble ourselves before God who sees what is really inside of us all. - Hypocrisy thrives on applause from others rather then God.
Wearing a religious mask that makes others believe all is good is deceptive and dishonoring before God. Others who can not see what is really on the inside of people will always applaud the one wearing the mask of hypocrisy.
Cross References:
- John 12:43 — Loved praise of men more than praise of God.
One who always seeks the praise of men more them the praise of God because their life is pleasing to the Lord will always have an empty void because inside of them their is no real fruit that came from God. In simple terms, without God being in what any of us do will only bring praise from men. Look at what Jesus said about doing anything in life: John 15:5 - Matthew 6:1-5 — Do not pray, fast, or give to be seen.
Doing religious acts to receive the praise of men has no reward from God. - Galatians 1:10 — If I seek to please men, I am not Christ’s servant.
Menpleasing is not from God. We all need to be seeking the approval from God by our life that is open and seen by the Lord. - Look at the Apostle Peter’s firm stance in relation to pleasing men or God: Acts 5:29
Peter was challenged by men to quit doing what he was doing but Peter took a firm stance against it because he knew that God told him to do what he was doing and so Peter rejects men-pleasing and continues to obey God!
Application:
- Ask: “Am I serving God for His glory or for my own reputation? Is my life pleasing and seeking the praise of men or of God? What is my real intent for the things that I do in God’s kingdom?”
IV. Blocking Others from Entering the Kingdom
- Matthew 23:13 — They shut up the kingdom of heaven against men.
A person who lives a life filled with hypocrisy is not only on the wrong path, but they lead others down that same path and sends people to hell because they both fall into a ditch. Proverbs 16:25 - Hypocrisy doesn’t only destroy the hypocrite — it hinders others. Matthew 15:14
Cross References:
- Romans 2:21-24 — Teaching others but not obeying brings reproach.
Hypocrisy brings reproach to the kingdom of God yet many today live a double standard before God and think it’s okay when it is not because the Lord sees all hypocrisy in everyone’s life. - Luke 11:52 — Taking away the key of knowledge.
Hyprocrisy removes the key to the knowledge of God and leaves people confused and void of the true knowledge of God. When the key of knowledge is removed from people’s lives, destruction replaces God’s knowledge. Hosea 4:6
Application:
- Our testimony either draws people to Christ or pushes them away.
If our life is filled with hypocrisy then our testimony is useless in the kingdom of God until we come before the Lord in “Spirit and in Truth” John 4:24 and Revelation 12:11
V. Clean Hands, Dirty Hearts
- Matthew 23:25-26 — Clean outside, filthy inside.
The Lord will always want to clean us from the inside out, the religious systems of men only focus on the outward appearance. - True holiness begins inside and works outward.
There comes a time in every persons life when the Lord will set you apart to focus on your life and what is inside of you correct what is false and so he can heal what is broken. Truth and holiness starts from within us because God has placed his kingdom within us. Luke 17:21 and Hebrews 12:14
Cross References:
- Psalm 51:6,10 — Truth in the inward parts; create a clean heart.
Why a clean heart? Because if we do not allow the Lord to create a clean heart within us we will not see God on the day of judgment. Matthew 5:8, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 51:17, and Ezekiel 36:26 - Proverbs 4:23 — Guard the heart.
The scriptures tell us to “guard” our hearts because out of it flow the issues of life and everything in man flows from the heart of man. Mark 7:20 and Matthew 12:34 - Mark 7:6-7 — Vain worship, commandments of men replacing God’s Word.
When doctrines and teachings of men are esteemed higher then what doctrines of Jesus we worship in vain and we must guard our heart from vain worship. Matthew 11:29
Application:
- Are we more worried about our image than our heart before God?
VI. Hypocrisy Brings Judgment
- Matthew 23:33 — Damnation of hell.
If you ask any person who professes to follow Jesus is they have ever denied Jesus, most would probably say NO. Denying Jesus is not just in words, but in our heart if we accept everything the Jesus taught and said. By not practicing and applying the teachings of Jesus is a form of denial towards Jesus because we do not do what He says in his teachings: Luke 6:46 - Hypocrisy is not small — it is deadly.
Living a double-standard life is leading many to hell because it portrays two different lives, one to appear righteous before men, and another with hidden sins that have not been repented of.
Cross References:
- Job 8:13 — The hypocrite’s hope perishes.
- Job 27:8 — No hope when God takes away his soul.
- Luke 12:1-2 — Hypocrisy exposed; nothing hidden from God.
Application:
- Every mask will one day be torn away before God’s throne because everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and nothing will be hid before God. Mark 4:22 and 2 Corinthians 5:10
VII. The Call to Authentic Christianity
- Matthew 23:11-12 — True greatness is in humility and servant-hood.
If our life does not reflect the life of Jesus we must examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Christ calls us to authenticity, humility, and truth, this is what Jesus said will make us free.
Living a life filled with hypocrisy will never make anyone free, truths that Jesus taught will. John 8:32 - Where did wearing a mask of hypocrisy come from?
Satan is the author of all masquerades, before Satan fell, the devil thought he could wear a mask in heaven but God threw Satan out of heaven for hypocrisy and pride and now the devil is at war with anyone who follows the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan is so cunning and deceptive that he has false ministers appearing as servants of God but are not. Revelation 12:7-10 and 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Cross References:
- Romans 12:9 — Love without hypocrisy.
- 1 Peter 1:22 — Love with a pure heart fervently.
- James 3:17 — Wisdom from above is pure and peaceable.
Application:
- Authentic faith is lived from the inside out — not a mask, but a transformed and contrite heart.
Conclusion
- Hebrews 4:13 — All things are naked and open before God.
- Matthew 5:8 — Blessed are the pure in heart. for they shall see God.
- Psalm 139:23-24 — “Search me, O God.”
Closing Thought:
Every follower of Jesus Christ must take off the masks. Stop playing church. Let Jesus cleanse the inside, and the outside will follow. As children of God we must all face what is on the inside of us and allow the Lord to change and cleans us from all unrighteousness.
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. – Joel 2:13
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