Seeking Jesus First Oct. 29, 2025
Beware of the leaven of hypocrisy.
“In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” (Luke 12:1–3, NKJV)
Jesus did not call the leaven of the pharisee, “religion”. He called it hypocrisy. What was wrong was the intent to deceive others into thinking that they were righteous and godly when they really had no faith in God. These pharisees were wicked men pretending to be righteous. In the previous chapter, Jesus rebuked the pharisees and the “lawyers”. The LORD’s warning to His disciples in Matthew 12:1-3 was given on the heels of those rebukes.
Hypocrisy is the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more laudable beliefs than is the case. Christ Jesus said that hypocrisy will be exposed in a very public way. We have seen this proven out with people we know, respect and love. The LORD is merciful to the merciful, but if we are claiming to be one thing while being something else, we know Our Heavenly Father will correct us. God will start with His word and His Spirit convicting us. He will have people around us warn us. His heart is to work repentance in us. Repent means to think like God thinks - to have the mind of Christ about things.
The answer is to stay humble and be quick to acknowledge when we are wrong. Be quick to repent and renew our minds. Stay close to Jesus in the quiet place. Never make excuses or justify ourselves. It is Christ Jesus who justifies. It is better to expose things with a trusted pastor or shepherd who loves us and will encourage us and hold us accountable.
What is the difference between a statement of faith and a lie? It seems to be the intent to hide your actions and deceive those around you. We declare, “We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”, but God looks at our hearts. Are we saying it to cover up what we are doing? Or are we declaring it in faith in order to step into the freedom His grace and righteousness grant to us?