I. EXORDIUM:
Are you a hypocrite? We've been all a hypocrite at one time or another.
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
General with ministry involvement
III. OBJECTIVES:
Facing a hypocrite
IV. TEXT:
Matthew 23:3
So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice.
Pray that we will not gossip or judge a hypocrite, let us also learn to submit to what they teach and not on what they do.
V. THESIS:
Do this when you face a hypocrite.
VI. TITLE:
How To Face A Hypocrite?
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Matthew, also called Levi, one of the twelve (12) apostles, Mark 2:14, Jew who was a Roman tax collector, Matthew 10:3, called a sinner because he enters Roman court.
Mark 2:14
As he was walking along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax collector's desk. Jesus told him, "Follow me!" So Levi got up and followed him.
Matthew 10:3
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
B. Audience: to the Jews
C. Keywords: Fulfilled
D. Purpose: To show Jesus of Nazareth was the Kingly Messiah of Jewish Prophecy.
E. Job/Profession:
Tax collector, a publican.
A Jew prohibited to enter courts of non-Jew to deliver the collected tax to the Roman (non-Jews). His profession made him a sinner.
(Isaiah 52:11, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Colossians 2:21, Genesis 3:3, Acts 10:28, Acts 11:3, John 4:9)
Isaiah 52:11
"Depart! Depart! Go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore, "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.
Colossians 2:21
"Don't handle this! Don't taste or touch that!"
Genesis 3:3
"but as for the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You are not to eat from it, nor are you to touch it, or you will die.'"
Acts 10:28
He told them, "You understand how wrong it is for a Jew to associate or visit with a gentile. But God has shown me that I should stop calling anyone common or unclean,
Acts 11:3
They said, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"
John 4:9
The Samaritan woman asked him, "How can you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" Because Jews do not have anything to do with Samaritans.
Events that will make Matthew unclean or a sinner:
1. Matthew will touch the money of the people.
2. Often thought of him stealing money, or adding charges to the people that will go straight to his pocket.
3. He will enter Roman courts to deliver the money.
4. He might be probably advised to eat with them if he has a good tax collection that day.
5. Touch unclean hands of the Romans.
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. What Are Hypocrites?
1. They can't give in secret. (Matthew 6:2)
Matthew 6:2
Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
2. They are religious (Matthew 6:5)
Matthew 6:5
Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
3. They are teachers of the law - the Pharisees. (Matthew 23:29)
Matthew 23:29
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,
Sometimes hypocrites are called pretenders.
4. They will go to hell. (Matthew 24:51)
Matthew 24:51
And will punish him [ cut him up by scourging] and put him with the pretenders (hypocrites); there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
5. They are only externals. (Mark 7:6-7)
Mark 7:6-7
6 But He said to them, Excellently and truly [ so that there will be no room for blame] did Isaiah prophesy of you, the pretenders and hypocrites, as it stands written: These people [constantly] honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far distant from Me.
7 In vain (fruitlessly and without profit) do they worship Me, ordering and teaching [to be obeyed] as doctrines the commandments and precepts of men.
6. They don't know or pretend to not know it's the last days. (Luke 12:56)
Luke 12:56
You playactors (hypocrites)! You know how [intelligently] to discern and interpret and prove the looks of the earth and sky; but how is it that you do not know how to discern and interpret and apply the proof to this present time?
7. They keep the Sabbath as routine. (Luke 13:15)
Luke 13:15
But the Lord replied to him, saying, You play actors (hypocrites)! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it out to water it?
B. How To Face Them?
1. Practice what they say or preach. (Matthew 23:3)
Matthew 23:3
So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice.
2. Obey whatever they say.
3. Don't follow their example.
4. They don't practice what they preach. (James 1:22)
James 1:22
But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
IX. CONCLUSION:
Pray that we will be doers of Your Word and not hearers only deceiving ourselves. (James 1:22)
James 1:22
But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
