Verses 1-3 Jesus is growing in popularity and many are flocking to see him now. Just after Jesus points out the Pharisee’s hypocrisy, he turns to his disciples and warns them specifically about this sin.
A Puff of Pride
Hypocrisy is saying one thing but doing another. It’s like indicating there are moral standards, but the actions don’t line up. Hypocritical actions might be deceitful, in secret, evading or skirting around the truth. A hypocrite might use scripture to get something for personal gain. Hypocrisy is one of the main reasons people leave the church. When someone says they follow Jesus but treat others in unloving ways, it can confuse and hurt. Hypocrisy puffs up pride and makes a person feel good about themselves, even when their actions are unacceptable to God.
Jesus compares hypocrisy to a little leaven or yeast that slowly permeates and contaminates the whole batch of dough. Hypocrisy can go undetected and creep in like a little yeast in a batch of dough. It ends up infecting the entire community. That’s because followers imitate their leaders.
Following The Leader
Jesus warns the disciples to be on guard and cautious of this sneaky sin of hypocrisy that lurks in the shadows of religious leaders. The Pharisees have influence and their teachings are not as they do. The sin of hypocrisy would bring even worse repercussions for the disciples because they are in a teaching position. There is a higher standard and judgment for those who teach the Word because they are leading others. Words and actions from a leader carry greater weight and greater influence. (James 3:1) If the teacher falls, so could all those who follow the teacher.
This is also a warning to one disciple, in particular, Judas, who will eventually betray Jesus. That betrayal will lead to Jesus’ death. Jesus knew what Judas was going to do. Isn’t it incredible that Jesus can hold the ugly truth about Judas and the unconditional love for Judas in his heart at the same time? Jesus’ forgiveness is a beautiful example of what it is to live with those we love who also sin and betray that love. Our siblings, children, parents, coworkers, or neighbors are imperfect people God has called us to do life with.
Our Secrets Will Find Us
In time, we can identify yeast in a batch of dough by its puffed-up presence. Jesus assures the crowd that a day is coming when secrets and motives become public knowledge. Eventually, the truth will come out. If we are inappropriate at home or with our friends, or inconsistent with our words and actions, our hypocrisy and foolishness will manifest themselves in the light of day.
Nothing can hide from God. The truth will prevail one day.
The closer we move toward Jesus, the brighter his light shines, and the darker our hearts appear. Our pursuit of Jesus should expose the evil in our hearts. Calling on the strength of the Holy Spirit will help us deal with the devil so that we can live surrendered to sanctification (being set apart from the world’s ways). We must remain on guard over our thoughts and not allow the temptation of former satisfactions or reputations to wreck our lives.
The Only One To Fear Is God
Verses 4-5 Jesus’ disciples and friends are afraid of the Pharisee’s threats; threats to kick out any followers of Jesus from the synagogues. Jesus tries to put the people at ease by saying that even if their enemies kill the body, they cannot take away their eternity. Only God has the authority to throw people into hell.
Fear will try to make us a coward. It can cause us to shrink back from opportunities to share Jesus with others. When we deny Jesus, we disown the only one who can save us. Entertaining what-if possibilities gives power to our fears. No one can touch a hair on our heads without God’s permission. God, our vindicator, is also our peace.
We can never please people and be servants of God. God’s ways are not the world’s ways.
Every Hair Has A Number
Verses 6-7 Birds are very insignificant and have very little value compared to human beings, yet God cares for them. How much greater is his care for those who trust him? He cares enough to number the hairs on our heads. God hears every sigh, and He collects every tear (Psalm 56:8). He remembers every drop of blood spilled for His sake.
God keeps track of all of our losses.
Verses 8-10 When Jesus’ followers acknowledge him, God will acknowledge them and honor them. When we own Jesus, He owns us. We will also have access to the Father in prayer through Jesus. Those who do not publicly acknowledge association with Jesus will not receive recognition from the Father. When we desert the Truth, Jesus will deny us. This leads to a loss of rewards and experiencing unanswered prayer since Jesus will not recommend or advocate to the Father for those who deny Him.
An Exception to God’s Forgiveness
Two examples of denying Jesus are by words and blasphemy, which is blatant disrespect for God with profanity or insulting God with our actions. Jesus can forgive words spoken in unbelief about Him.
A weary heart might let the circumstances determine their emotions and thoughts versus remaining steadfast in trusting Jesus. We are living in unbelief anytime we speak or act like Jesus can’t get us out of the situation. If we let our anxiety or worry tempt us to take matters into our own hands, this is unbelief. Our own excuses for not walking in Jesus’ power to share the gospel or to walk in our calling are other examples of unbelief. When we make excuses and reject the opportunities to share Jesus, we reject Jesus. He will forgive us for our lack of faith and unbelief.
When we live in unbelief, we deny ourselves the benefits of being a believer. When we believe in Jesus’s supernatural strength in us, we can do the impossible and be a witness to His work.
Blatant disrespect against God is deliberate. It is with a full rejection of Jesus, whom the Holy Spirit reveals. To reject the Holy Spirit’s revelations or testimony of Jesus is to reject the only means God has provided for salvation.
Jesus Is Our Sufficiency
Verses 11-12 God will not abandon his disciples. When they appear in the synagogues or before authorities and rulers in Jesus’ name, the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say. When we face trials, Jesus will sufficiently supply whatever it is we need to get through it. As we bear the suffering, we are writing our testimony of God’s strength and power through us. We don’t have to worry about what to say or when to say it. The Holy Spirit, the spirit of all wisdom, teaches us and guides us on what to say and how to say it so that it may honor God.
Filled With The Holy Spirit
The book of Acts gives an excellent example of this with Peter. Peter and John were sharing the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection. They were sharing the good news with a crowd of people after healing a man. About 5,000 people accepted Jesus that day. The religious leaders were so annoyed with Peter and John that they had the disciples arrested and thrown in jail.
Then a gathering of religious leaders brought Peter and John out of jail to ask, “By what power or name do you operate in?” And the Bible says the Holy Spirit fills up Peter at that moment and he responds, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8-12 NLT
Wow! That’s bold! Only the power of the Holy Spirit could speak so boldly to enemies of the gospel message. Jesus fills us up in the right moments with the right words. Peter didn’t have to hesitate. And neither do we when we have Jesus living in us and breathing through us.
Prayer
Jesus, you are my Truth. I want to live saturated in your Word, walking out a testimony of your work. Though I once followed sin for the satisfaction it brought me, I now choose Truth because I long for your presence, God, in my life. I pray for any root of hypocrisy to be pulled out of my life, my family’s lives, and out of my generational line. Help me be on guard from the hypocrisy that infects my surroundings. My heart is open, God. Reveal the evil that I’ve been neglecting at the core of my words and actions. I desire your sanctification, not temporary satisfaction. I release the grip I’ve had on my reputation. It’s pointless to control my image when the devil is steering a ship.
Help me be honest about the secrets in my life so that my heart can shed the weight of sin and your Truth can purify me. Help me release any people-pleasing tendencies and the fear I have of man’s power. I fear only you, God. You are my Vindicator and Peace. You keep track of all of my losses and collect every sigh, every tear, and every hair. I acknowledge you, Jesus, here in my quiet spaces.
Help me confess the source of my joy and peace when I am in public places. Help my unbelief, Jesus. I lay down my excuses. I don’t want to waste this life with You denying myself the benefits of being a believer and having the power of the Holy Spirit pour out of me, Jesus. When I hear blatant disrespect for You, Jesus, give me the boldness, Holy Spirit, to open my mouth and fill my words with wisdom and Truth. When I face trials, help me remember You will sufficiently supply whatever it is I need to get through it, Holy Spirit. You are living and active in my life. Teach me and guide me, Holy Spirit, in Your Truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.