Anatomy Lesson 4: Religious Hypocrisy obstructs kingdom benefits

Rev. Enoch Thompson | August 7, 2023 | Matthew 23:13

KEY VERSE:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Matthew 23:13 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Our journey in the Anatomy of Hypocrisy has taken us through a few lessons; let’s recap:

ANATOMY LESSON 1: HYPOCRITES BURDEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH A HEARTLESS RELIGION

ANATOMY LESSON 2: RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY LOVES SHOWMANSHIP (PART 1; BEWARE OF SELF ON THE THRONE)

ANATOMY LESSON 3: RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY LOVES SHOWMANSHIP (PART 2; USE TITLES IN HUMILITY)

You might have heard said of someone being a dog in a manger. Such a dog does not eat the grass in the manger, and at the same time does not allow the sheep who need the grass to have access to the grass in the manger. This is the portrait of the hypocritical religionist in ANATOMY LESSON 4: RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY OBSTRUCTS KINGDOM BENEFITS.

The Pharisees opposed the teaching and claims of the Lord Jesus and sought every opportunity to trip Him with contrived loaded questions and baseless unfounded and moot accusations based on a deliberate misinterpretation of His words. To them, Jesus of Nazareth was an ordinary Jewish young man empowered by Satan himself and making misleading boisterous claims as Messiah. They did not follow Him, as a group, but some individuals among them believed in the Lord. Remember Nicodemus came to Him by night to seek a closer acquaintance with His doctrine, and Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple who came out of hiding after the crucifixion! This shows that individual consciences when not surrounded by negative influences can lend themselves to sound judgment, and also that the wrong pretence of false religious leadership can affect people negatively in their search for the Kingdom of God.

The group rejection of Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah, by the religious leaders (who should have known better, who should have embraced the Messiah and who should have led the people to accept Him as their long-awaited Messiah and the Saviour of the world), influenced the masses of the Jewish people and resulted in a national rejection of the Lord. These pretending religious leaders were not taking hold of the Kingdom of God, and they became detractors of those who otherwise would have benefitted from the blessings of the person and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. O the judgment to come when my failure to access God's provisions and privileges affects other people’s faith-walk negatively, especially people who look up to me for spiritual direction!

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

What is your state of belief or unbelief concerning the Bible and the claims it makes about your person? Are you in some ways becoming a negative influence on the faith and faith-walk of another person, spouse, child, parent, colleague neighbour the Church or the world? Are you a sheep feeding from the manger of Kingdom living, or a dog in the manger, frightening people away from the King and His Kingdom?

It is time to stop, reflect, repent, and turn to serve the evangelism and discipleship agenda of Christ in the lives of others, especially those entrusted to us in the family, in the church and the world.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, please forgive me for times I have been an obstruction to people coming to you, to people walking with you, and to people growing in you. Please forgive me and help me to help others to the banquet of the Kingdom. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! _______________________________

DAILY word study: HYPOCRISY

In Matthew 23:13, Jesus begins a series of denunciations against the scribes and Pharisees: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to." This verse exposes the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, who outwardly presented themselves as righteous but obstructed others from truly knowing God. The passage calls us to examine our own hearts and actions. It prompts us to reflect on whether our lives reflect true devotion or if we are inadvertently creating barriers for others to experience the grace and love of God.

The Greek word used for "hypocrites" in Matthew 23:13 is "ὑποκριτής" (hypokrites), which refers to an actor or pretender. In its original context, it described someone who wore a mask to play a role on stage. In the New Testament, "hypokrites" refers to those who pretend to be something they are not, particularly in matters of faith and morality. This word captures the essence of the scribes and Pharisees' behaviour. They projected an image of piety while lacking sincerity and genuine devotion. Their outward appearances concealed their inner motivations, resulting in a form of religious deception.

As we study "hypocrisy" within the context of Matthew 23:13, we are reminded of the importance of authenticity in our faith. It prompts us to consider whether our relationship with God is characterized by transparency and honesty. Are we truly living out our convictions, or are we wearing a spiritual mask? This reflection challenges us to align our inner lives with our external actions, ensuring that our faith is marked by genuine sincerity and a heart that seeks to glorify God above all else.