Hypocrisy and the Enemy List
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Who are the enemies of Christ? In the end, it is anyone who does not wish Him to rule over them. But that group obviously consists of several subgroups, amongst which are those who pretend to follow Christ, and those who openly oppose him.
Introduction
continues his series of theological questions, this time with one about hypocrisy:Religious hypocrisy certainly stands out as one of the notable challenges to the teachings of Christ, as emphasized repeatedly in the Gospels.
Jesus often confronted and criticized the Pharisees and other religious leaders of His time for their hypocrisy.
These leaders were accused of imposing burdensome rules on others while themselves failing to live by these principles.
They focused on appearances and outward conformity to the law, neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
In Matthew 23, Jesus openly rebukes the Pharisees and teachers of the law, calling them "whitewashed tombs," which indeed look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean (Matthew 23:27).
This metaphor highlights the stark difference between outward religiosity and inward piety, emphasizing that true faith is not just about following rituals but about a heartfelt commitment to living out God's commandments.
Considering the teachings of Jesus Christ, who would be considered His greater foes: those who openly oppose His teachings, or those who profess faith yet act hypocritically, thereby taking the Lord's name in vain?
Why is the misuse of God’s name, especially through hypocritical behavior, considered a profound violation of the Commandments?
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Matthew 23:23-27
Covered with What?
I think we need to be very careful when we read Christ’s condemnation of the pharisees, lest we miss what He is actually condemning. When Christ speaks of whitewashed tombs, what is the outside, and what is the inside? Because I think we often see it wrong.
We often speak as if what Christ was saying was that their ‘actions’ covered up their ‘heart attitude’. Now, while there is some truth in that, that is not the core of what Christ was saying. What He was saying was that it was their *words* which were covering up their *actions*!
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do;
but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders;
but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Matthew 23:2-4
Let's give a modern example. Let’s take a modern church, The First Baptist Church of Anywhere. The First Baptist pastor is a marvellous speaker. He preaches an excellent sermon. He is often called to speak at conferences all over the United States. He is respected by all who listen to him…
Meanwhile, he’s sleeping with the head deacon’s wife. What Christ is saying is that his words, including all of the word-like actions that sell his image to his adoring congregation and admiring crowds, cover up his adulterous actions. If people see him hanging out with her in secluded corners, he drowns their suspicions with mountains of words about the importance of the privacy of counselling, and changes the subject to the youth group retreat.
When Christ says they leave the weightier matters ‘undone’, what was he talking about? Well, He says clearly:
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Mark 7:6-13
What were these Pharisees doing? They were making a big show of tithing mint and cumin… and giving to the temple; and then going to their parents and saying, “Sorry Mom, Dad, but any money I might have given to you to help support you in your declining years, I’ve dedicated that to the LORD’s work.” Now there’s taking the LORD’s name in vain!
They didn’t just fail to honour God’s Word in their hearts, they sent their parents to the poor house. All the while covering up their sin with fancy words.
Modern Pharisees
One of the most deadly things we can do when reading the Scripture is to pat ourselves on the back and say, “Boy, I sure am glad I am not like those Pharisees, foolish apostles, unbelieving Jews, polygamous patriarchs… etc etc.” Cause that’s about the fastest way to ensure that you will be like them.
Suppose, for example, there is a passage in Scripture that you don’t like. It would be embarrassing to follow that Biblical command, or expensive, or hard… And so you get out your Greek degree, and extensive understanding of the culture of of the New Testament era and, after a half an hour of voluminous argument, you have convinced yourself and your audience that that command does not mean what it says, that it is culturally determined, that there are several ways of interpreting it… and what did the women bring for the potluck today?
Conclusion
So who are the enemies of Christ? Well, again, everyone who rejects him. But Andrew’s point is well taken: the most dangerous enemy that a man can have is one who pretends he is a friend.
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
I Corinthians 5:9-13
But we cannot then say that it is only those who pretend to be believers, or even are believers, who act as enemies of Christ, who are enemies of Christ. Everyone who rejects Christ is His enemy, and thus our enemy:
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Ephesians 5:11-12
And that applies to individuals and nations:
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Psalm 2
So Andrew is right to warn us against the danger of hypocrites. He is right that Christ saw them as a particular enemy. Those who preach the truth, but live a lie, are an incredible danger. But so are those who preach a lie directly. And those who merely live it.
Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!
If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.
Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Links
Some Theology from Andrew
Love in Division // Podcast Version
Marriage Discussion
I write a lot on the subject of marriage, and one of the most important threads has been a letter exchange with
. Our question in that thread was ‘What Is Marriage?”.Ryan Shortalso contributed.
https://beatricejoyk.substack.com/p/finding-focus-in-the-dark?r=3tbs7l
Hi Von,
This is Beatrice-Joy Owusu-Ansah. I have been following your post's for sometime. They are really inspiring, thought provoking and insightful. I would be sending my comments soon.
I am new to substack and just learning how to navigate the platform.
I would be very happy if you could check out the link to my first post. Any tips or criticism are welcome.