Woe To The Hypocrites

About this sermon

Introduction: Dangerous and in danger. Both can be true. The wolves in sheep’s clothing, the men who can be described as a brood of vipers, those who threaten the souls of men and women with Satanic lies and contribute to the damnation of men and women — ALL FALSE TEACHERS, ALL FALSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS — ARE THEMSELVES ON THEIR WAY TO JUDGMENT. That is, they are both a danger and in danger at the same time. They are dangerous, but not in a position of strength. They are tolerated for a time but not forgotten and not excused. They are ministers of death and destruction but are themselves headed for death and destruction. They WILL NOT ESCAPE what they deserve. ESV Matthew 15: 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." Agents for destruction and destined for destruction. Jesus has warned the people — now He warns those who deceive the people. What we have is a warning for ANYONE who is like these men. It was a warning to these men, but it is a warning to all who share their character. ESV 1 Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. IT IS A DANGEROUS THING TO BE A DANGER TO THE LORD’S CHURCH — A DANGER TO THE LORD’S PEOPLE. We will examine our Lord’s teaching under two headings. (1) Three key words (2) Seven awful declarations. • THREE KEY WORDS There are three key words repeated throughout this section. There is word “woe,” the word “hypocrites,” and the word “blind.” Hypocrites speaks to their character. Woe speaks to their condemnation. Blind speaks to their condition. • WOE The word woe is Οὐαὶ. Depending upon the context it can mean more than just a declaration of judgment. It is a cry. It is an interjection. It is often used to express pain, lamentation, sorrow, sadness, regret, fear. Here it is a declaration of judgment. It is a CERTIFICATION of what awaits these men, and yet a declaration that expresses the tragedy of it. There is, in this word “woe” the sense of the tragedy of sin and its effects. Our Lord goes on to express His desire for salvation instead of judgment. ESV Matthew 23:37 "O 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 wings, and you were not willing! Depending on how one regards verse 14 (we’ll talk about it in a moment), 7 or 8 times Jesus declares WOE upon the hypocrites — the scribes and Pharisees. • HYPOCRITES This is the second key word in the section, because it is repeated again and again. There are 8 or 9 references to their hypocrisy. These are insincere men. They are mask wearers. They are not what they pretend to be. God is on their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. They say things they don’t believe. They require things they don’t practice at heart level. This is the characteristic description of the Pharisees. Jesus is saying that the word hypocrisy is synonymous with Pharisee or scribe. “SAY PHARISEE AND YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY HYPOCRITE.” ESV Luke 12:1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. NOTE: THIS CONTINUES TO BE THE CHARACTER OF FALSE TEACHERS ESV 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, • BLIND These men who are under condemnation, these men who are insincere liars, are spiritually blind. “blind guides” (vs.16) “blind fools” (vs.17) “blind men” (vs.19) “blind guides” (vs.24) “blind Pharisee” (vs.26) Where there is arrogance there is blindness. Where there is self-righteousness there is blindness. Where there is fearless manipulation, oppression, distortion, destruction — there is blindness. These are blind guides leading blind people. Do you want to consider these religious leaders with respect to their destiny? They are condemned. Do you want to consider them with respect to their character? They are hypocrites. Do you want to consider them with respect to their spiritual condition? They are blind. • SEVEN AWFUL DECLARATIONS Our Lord, however, does not simply declare judgment in some vague fashion. He does not simply describe their character in general terms. OUR LORD DECLARES JUDGMENT WITH SPECIFICS.