The Inside and the Outside

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.

Luke 6:11

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