“Do not be like the hypocrites.” – Jesus

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Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Jesus’ words were scandalous when he spoke them, because he accuses the scribes and Pharisees of being “hypocrites.” 

Phonies.

Originally, a “hypocrite” referred to someone who wore a mask. So, he’s telling these men that they’re like actors on a stage. 

Their real identity – an ugly one at that – is concealed by their overflowing robes and fluency of rules.

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Unfortunately, there always will be people like the scribes and Pharisees, who use religion as a cloak. They appear holy on the outside, but are defiled – unclean – within.

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That is not us.

We’ve gathered here this morning because we want to love and serve the Lord. We want to be holy. So, what does this Gospel have to do with us?

There’s always the temptation to become comfortable with religion, to reach a point where we no longer change within.

Perhaps our prayers have become rote; we say the words without attaching our hearts to them. Or we stop the Spirit from inching us out of our comfort zones. Or we slow our efforts at charity.

But faith is meant to stretch us; to challenge us to love more; to serve longer; to pray harder; to live more humbly; to resist becoming complacent in our relationship with God.

“Do not be like the hypocrites,” Jesus says. Allow the Holy Spirit to stretch you a little more today.

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Image credits: (1) Adobe Stock, Hypocrite Images (2) Embracing Brokenness Ministries (3) City of Liberty International Church