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Matthew 23:15
Jesus continues His revelation against the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:15. He refers to them as “hypocrites” eight times in Matthew 23. When Jesus states something once, we should take note of that and implement that teaching in our lives. When Jesus repeats a teaching a second time, we should take notice of the importance that Jesus puts on that particular teaching and make sure that we are paying attention to what Jesus is teaching us. So when Jesus repeats a word or topic over and over, such as the case in Matthew 23 with His revelation of the scribes and Pharisees being “hypocrites”, we need to make sure that we understand the meaning of the word “hypocrite” and why Jesus is revealing this of them. The word “hypocrite/hypocrisy” as defined by Merriam-Webster is, “a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not: the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion.” Words used to describe hypocrisy are insincerity, deception, dishonesty, and self-satisfaction.
This is a command to beware of false teachings.
This is a promise that following the deceptive, self-centered ways of this world will lead to condemnation.
This is an example of those who present themselves as righteous but are as Jesus declares, “hypocrites” (Matthew 23, NKJV).
A hypocrite is a person who is insincere, deceptive, dishonest, and seeks only self-satisfaction. The Bible teaches us in James 3:13-18, (NIV), “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
So what can we do to not fall to the deceit of this world? James 4:7-8, 10 guides us to, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
The devil will continue to attack you throughout your life, but it is so important to know that Jesus has already defeated the devil when He died to pay our price for sin in His sinless state. He rose from the dead to proclaim life to all and for all who will believe in Him. The devil knows that he has been defeated, and even the demons believe in Jesus – and they shudder in fear of their eternal destination when Jesus returns to end the time of the devils trying to pull us away from God (James 2:19; Revelation 20). When the devil attacks you, call on the name of Jesus to protect you, because when you put your focus on Jesus, the devil will flee from you. I know this, and I believe this because I experience this in my own life – in Christ! Praise the LORD!
Dear LORD,
We recognize You as the God of all power and strength who has defeated the devil for us and gives us refuge in our salvation in and through Your One and only Son Jesus. Please help us to recognize the false teachings of this world so that we would not fall into the trap of the devil, but that we would call on the name of Jesus to set us free from them.
Please help us to see that as the scribes and Pharisees of this world may have been giving the appearance of following Your will for their lives, they were leading people astray from Your great plan of salvation for all people. We cannot pick and choose which ways of the Bible we want to follow or not and proclaim to be a Christian; but that we would change our lives and conform our lives to Your Word – in Christ Jesus so that we may live eternal in heaven as Your true children. In Jesus name I pray, amen.