There are few things that people hate more than hypocrisy.
When people say one thing and yet do another or say another.
! Politicians are a familiar example of this.
! So often they make promises of what they will do when they're elected.
And then once they're elected, they break those promises.
Or sometimes even worse, they'll get caught doing something completely opposite to what they promised.
Well, even worse than the stench of political hypocrisy is that of religious hypocrisy.
Many times people who call themselves Christians or even pastors have been caught red-handed
in an ongoing pattern of immoral behavior.
Just as an example of this, you might have heard of this guy, Rabbi Zacharias.
He was internationally known as a defender of the Christian faith.
He wrote books.
He spoke all over the place in churches, schools, universities.
And then it came out that for at least 10 years leading up to his death, possibly longer,
he'd been living in gross sexual immorality and had committed numerous acts of sexual abuse.
Well, he's one of the big stories out there.
But on a smaller scale, many people have smelled firsthand the stench of a local Christian hypocrite.
It might look like someone who's always condescending and critical of others.
It might look like someone who's super concerned about moral purity or about believing just the right things.
But everybody knows that they have little compassion or concern for anybody but themselves.
And it might show up just in the kinds of comments that they make or the things that they say.
And so people have been quick to conclude that Christians are a bunch of hypocrites.
Maybe you've heard that said.
But what might come as a surprise to many is that Jesus himself had a bone to pick with hypocrites.
In our journey through the Gospel of Luke, we've seen how Jesus had a lot of attention from the religious groups.
The Pharisees and the religious law teachers.
They tried to label him as a blasphemer.
They saw him spending time with the questionable in society.
A group of tax collectors and their friends.
And they tried to dirty Jesus' reputation by spreading news that Jesus hangs out with tax collectors and sinners and drunkards.
They tried to call into question whether he was really devoted to God.
You know, we Pharisees, we fast and pray often.
But we don't see your disciples doing that very much.
They accused him of failing to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Working on the Sabbath when he was healing people.
They were incensed that he pronounced forgiveness to a repentant prostitute.
Who they felt should have been stoned to death.
And eventually, this sort of antagonism from the Pharisees just keeps on building.
We've heard just recently about how it came to the point where they accused him of casting out a demon by the power of Satan.
Earlier in this chapter.
We read in Luke 6 verse 11 that the Pharisees were furious.
And they began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
And it's here in chapter 11 that things really come to a head.
Between Jesus and the religious leaders.
Jesus is invited over to a Pharisee's house.
And Jesus just unleashes on them.
He calls them out for their hypocrisy.
Let's read what happened here in Luke 11 starting in verse 37.
When Jesus had finished speaking.
A Pharisee invited Jesus to eat with him.
So he went in and reclined at the table.
Now that might be surprising.
If you.
Just one moment ago they were saying.
Jesus you're in league with Satan.
And the next minute they're inviting him over for dinner.
There's something fishy about this.
And we know from later on in this passage.
That this is not just one Pharisee.
But several Pharisees.
And religious.
Law teachers.
Who are present at this meal.
And so with the tensions as high as they are.
This is going to be an interesting meal.
Let's keep going.
But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed.
That Jesus did not first wash.
Before the meal.
So Jesus hardly even gets to sitting down.
And he's already offended them.
Now of course we read this from our modern viewpoint.
And we might even be surprised ourselves.
That Jesus didn't wash his hands.
Before the meal.
But this wasn't the same kind of washing.
That we're used to.
Back then.
Mark actually tells us in his gospel.
That the Pharisees did not eat.
Unless they gave their hands.
A ceremonial washing.
Holding to the tradition of the elders.
And this ritual washing.
They would dip their hands in a bowl of water.
It wasn't about hygiene.
It was actually about maintaining ritual purity.
Religious purity.
As if somehow being out in the marketplace.
Could contaminate you.
Because you'd be coming into contact with the unclean.
And so just in case.
We're going to do this washing before the meal.
So that when we put our hands to our mouths.
We're not contaminating in here.
Well Jesus decides to forgo the ritual.
And the Pharisee.
And probably all of his guests.
Just sort of express their surprise.
And their amazement.
Like who does this guy think he is?
He doesn't need.
To cleanse his hands.
After being out among the unclean masses.
Well this turns out to be the spark that sets Jesus off.
And truthfully.
Jesus knows that he hasn't just been invited over.
For a nice meal with the Pharisees.
And so.
This is where it's just.
We're going to cut right to it.
And Jesus.
Starts to speak.
Verse 39.
Then the Lord said to him.
Now then.
You Pharisees.
Clean the outside.
Of the cup.
And dish.
But inside.
You are full of greed.
And wickedness.
You foolish people.
Did not the one.
Who made.
The outside.
Make.
The inside.
Also.
So he just tears into them.
You Pharisees.
Are a bunch of hypocrites.
You're all concerned with.
Outward appearances.
While on the inside.
You guys are full of greed.
And wickedness.
He says.
You're like a guy.
Who just washes the outside of the dish.
So that it looks good.
On the outside.
To everybody who sees.
But then on the inside.
Of the bowl.
It's filthy.
It's nasty.
And he calls them fools.
He says.
You guys are a bunch of fools.
You think God only cares.
About the external.
How foolish.
God.
God sees.
And cares about.
Who you are.
On the inside.
Just as much as.
The outside.
You might be able to fool others.
Who are looking at you.
Watching you.
But you can't fool God.
God.
Verse 41.
Jesus says.
Now as for what is inside you.
Be generous to the poor.
And everything will be clean for you.
Another translation.
Says it this way.
But give from your heart.
To those in need.
And then everything will be clean for you.
the Pharisees were known for putting on a show with their gifts
they weren't giving from the heart
because they actually cared about people
Jesus alludes to this another time when he tells his followers
not to be like some who when they give to the needy
they announce it with trumpets
so that they can be seen by others and honored by others
Jesus basically saying you give to the needy to look clean and polished and good on the outside
well you might fool other people
but you can't fool God
don't worry about the external
and what other people think or see
worry about the inside
what's in your heart
let your gifts
your generosity
your kindness
your compassion
come out of your heart
give out of that
and then everything will be clean for you
the externals will be clean
because they flow from a good and clean and right heart
and then from here Jesus just
digs in even more
woe to you Pharisees
because you give God a tenth of your mint
rue
and all other kinds of garden herbs
but you neglect justice
and the love of God
you should have practiced the latter without leaving the former
undone
that word woe basically means warning
or tragedy
God's judgment is coming
you're in deep trouble with him
why?
Jesus says because you're so meticulous as to give a tenth
not just of your wages
but even of your herbs
from your herb garden
can you imagine that?
one mint leave for
the Lord
nine for me
one for the tithe
nine for me
they're so meticulously focused on that
and Jesus says
yet you
you neglect
justice
you neglect
the love of God
itself
they've missed the whole point
again
you might be fooling others
with this sort of
appearance of righteousness
but you can't fool God
they were doing all kinds of religious things
including this hand washing
things that have the appearance of righteousness
but it wasn't out of a love for God
he keeps going
woe to you Pharisees
because you love the most important seats in the synagogues
and respectful greetings in the marketplace
just a warning about pride
you love the attention from other people
you're proud
you're arrogant
in your heart
it's all about you
he keeps going
woe to you
because you are like unmarked graves
which people walk over without knowing it
according to Old Testament law
touching a dead body
made you unclean
and God had given a sort of set of purity laws
they weren't to touch dead bodies
and if they did
if they had to
they would be unclean
and that meant they wouldn't be able to go to the tabernacle
or the temple
until they'd waited a certain period of time
so there was purity laws
that God gave
but the Pharisees had gone way beyond this
they had added all kinds of man-made laws and rules
this washing of hands was one of them
they would cleanse the dishes and the utensils in their house
and go on and on with it
but Jesus basically says
forget the cleansing of your hands
you yourselves are as unclean as a grave
or a tomb with dead bodies inside
and what's worse
he says
you're basically infecting and defiling other people
who are following you
without them even realizing it
you guys think you're guides to the blind
to lead them to heaven
to the path of life
but in reality
your false religion is leading them into death
to the grave
then one of the experts in the law answered him
teacher when you say these things
you insult us also
Jesus replied
and you experts in the law
woe to you
because you load people down
with burdens they can hardly carry
and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them
woe to you
because you build tombs for the prophets
and it was your ancestors who killed them
so you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did
they killed the prophets
and you build their tombs
because of this
God in his wisdom said
I will send them prophets and apostles
some of whom they will kill
and others
they will persecute
therefore this generation
will be held responsible
for the blood of all the prophets
that has been shed
since the beginning
of the world
from the blood of Abel
to the blood of Zechariah
who was killed between the altar
and the sanctuary
yes
I tell you
this generation
will be held responsible
for it all
Jesus just lets them have it
his denunciation
could hardly be stronger
maybe the religious lawyers
thought that
they were kind of separate
from the Pharisees
but they were taking offense
at the things
Jesus was saying
to the Pharisees
and Jesus just
turns it right on them
as well
you think it's just them
in danger of God's judgment
woe to you too
all your extra rules
and laws
and traditions
they haven't helped people
obey God
the people look to you
for spiritual wisdom
and guidance
but all you're doing
is loading them down
with a burden
that they can't carry
you don't even care about them
you're not even willing
to lift one finger
to help them with this
you guys are just like
your fathers
who rejected
the word of God
who killed
the prophets
sent to them
you kind of just
finish and endorse
what they did
by building places
of burial
for them
he says
you will be responsible
for the blood
of all the prophets
that have been killed
from the first one
to the last one
scathing
remarks
from Jesus
but maybe
verse 52
is
one of the hardest
things for them
to hear
woe to you
experts in the law
because you have
taken away
the key
to knowledge
you yourselves
have not entered
and you have
hindered those
who were entering
like imagine
hearing this
when it comes
to the door
to knowledge
I mean these
guys are considered
the experts
in the law
Jesus says
you haven't given
people the key
you've taken it
away from them
you guys are
ignorant
you haven't
entered
and even worse
you're making it
more difficult
for those who
are trying to
when Jesus
went outside
the Pharisees
and the teachers
of the law
began to
oppose him
fiercely
and to
besiege him
with questions
waiting to
catch him
in something
he might
say
so now
they're
really mad
Jesus
just called
them out
on this
he put
his finger
on
their hypocrisy
their pride
their arrogance
he spoke
the truth
when he accused
them of misleading
people
and hindering
them
leading them
astray
he says
you guys
are in
deeper
trouble
than you
even
know
God's
fed up
with
this
and he's
got it
coming
for you
so maybe
this morning
if you
are here
and you've
ever felt
fed up
with religious
hypocrisy
you're not
the only
one
God
hates
it
Jesus
was fed
up with
it too
I love
how Jesus
just sort
of
tells it
like it
is
fearlessly
to these
guys
I mean
this is
in part
what will
lead to
his death
saying
these sorts
of things
to them
and
you know
it's pretty
easy for us
to hear
some of
these words
and
sort of
cheer for
Jesus
yeah
go
you tell
them
but I
hope that
Jesus
words
to them
make
you
squirm
a little
as well
and
unsettle
you a
little
bit
those
of us
who call
ourselves
Christians
and have
a good
reputation
and
go to
church
and hang
out with
the religious
crowd
we're
especially
vulnerable
to hypocrisy
and I
think we've
all done
it
haven't
we
it's
easy
to
pretend
it's
easy
to sort
of
put on
the show
for others
to do
the things
we do
to be
seen
by
others
the things
that will
make others
think well
of us
or compliment
us
and so
as much
as we
should
cheer
that Jesus
put the
religious
hypocrites
in their
place
I hope
that we
also
take a
moment
to
think
about
whether
any
of
these
words
of
rebuke
are
for
us
and if
we're
not
willing
even
to
go
there
even
to
consider
if
we're
like
the
Pharisees
then
maybe
it's
because
we
are
proud
maybe
it's
because
we are
self
righteous
like
they
were
one
of the
central
messages
of
Jesus
here
is
that
the
inside
of us
matters
just
as much
as the
outside
if not
more
when it
comes
to
the
externals
the
outside
our
behavior
the
things
that
we
say
we
might
be
able
to
fool
other
people
but
we
can't
fool
God
it's
foolish
to
even
think
that
we
can
he
sees
and
knows
the
very
feelings
and
thoughts
of
our
hearts
he
knows
why
we
really
do
and
say
the
things
that
we
do
and
so
I
think
the
first
thing
Jesus
would
have
us
ask
ourselves
as
we
consider
these
words
to
the
Pharisees
is
what
about
me
am
I
guilty
of
these
things
have
I
been
doing
these
things
what
does
the
inside
of
my
dish
look
like
and
have
I
been
seeking
purity
and
cleanliness
in
here
in
my
heart
in
my
thoughts
or
have
I
been
neglecting
love
for
God
in
here
and
just
polishing
the
dish
on
the
outside
some
of
my
favorite
words
are
those
of
David
Psalm
139
this
was his
prayer
to the
Lord
he
said
search
me
God
and
know
my
heart
trust
me
and
know
my
anxious
thoughts
see if
there is
any
offensive
way
in
me
and
lead
me
in
the
way
everlasting
it's
an
awesome
prayer
an
invitation
and
I
hope
that
we
can
make
that
our
invitation
again
today
Lord
look into
my
heart
is
there
anything
in
me
that
needs
cleansing
and
come
and
cleanse
it
and
wash
it
the
truth
is
that
the
inside
of
all
of
us
is
like
a
dirty
dish
hypocrisy
!
is when
we try
to hide
that
and
ignore
that
and
spend
all
that
time
and
attention
just
polishing
the
outside
Jesus
warns
us
doing
that
is
spiritually
dangerous
woe
to
you
but
on
the
flip
side
spiritual
integrity
happens
when we
bring
the
dish
of
our
hearts
to
God
and
we
ask
him
to
cleanse
it
clean
it
wash
it
scour
it
and
then
when
someone
else
comes
along
and
says
my
your
dish
looks
good
what
should
we
do
we
should
give
the
credit
to
God
and
we
should
be
honest
about
the
dirtiness
that
remains
inside
at
the
end
of
the
day
you
might
be
able
to
fool
others
but
you
can't
fool
God
there's
only
one
who
can
make
the
inside
of
our
dish
clean
and
beautiful
and
that's
Jesus
and so
we
have
to
give
our
time
and
attention
to
seeking
his
cleansing
work
inside
of
us
and
if
we
do
that
just
as
Jesus
said
what
comes
out
will
be
clean
it
will
be
good
it
will
be
right
let's
pray
father
in
heaven
thank
you
for
these
words
they
are
sharp
words
and
words
we
may
not
like
to
hear
especially
thinking
about
ourselves
but
we
thank
you
that
you
already
know
that
we
are
all
sinners
and
that
didn't
stop
you
from
sending
your
son
to
save
us
thank
you
for
your
forgiveness
and
your
cleansing
thank
you
that
with
you
we
really
can
be
clean
and
righteous
in
your
sight
despite
our
many
sins
continue
to
cleanse
us
of
pride
let
us
not
live
as
hypocrites
let
us
not
neglect
our
relationship
with
you
be
at
work
in
our
hearts
we
ask
and
pray
for
your
name's
sake
amen