Without Hypocrisy

Luke 11:37-54

You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy. (Luke 11:39)

MANY LATE MEDIEVAL CLERGY and high ecclesiastical authorities preached the virtues of renunciation, but they exemplified extravagance in their own lives. Many of them preached morality and celibacy while having common-law wives or concubines on the side. Many preached the virtues of honesty and integrity while manipulating the processes that put them in their positions. They are just one example among many—in all ages—of spiritual hypocrisy.

We have no business condemning them, since hypocrisy is common to our age as well. We preach biblical morality while loosening the standards of what we expect of ourselves and those around us. We condemn greed while many around us take advantage of capitalist values to exploit others for personal gain. We condemn governments for taking on too much responsibility for people’s welfare while neglecting to take on such responsibilities for ourselves. Like preachers and teachers of ages past, we violate our own standards, often without noticing the contradiction.

Jesus had harsh words for hypocrites, who taught one message outwardly and lived another one inwardly. And while we each have our inconsistencies—none of us have fully recovered from our fallen nature, after all—we are not as diligent about eliminating them as we ought to be. As a result, much of the world is convinced that Christians are no different from anyone else and have simply learned to clean ourselves up (sometimes) on the outside. They do not always see clear examples of transformed hearts and lives of integrity.

Give them one. Live with a transformed heart, and do whatever you can to live with integrity in every area of life. Be honest about your faults but also about how God is redeeming and restoring you into his image. Admit your inconsistencies, but also aim to eradicate them. Let the world around you see spiritual authenticity, genuine depth, and a life consistent with its love and commitment. God has made you into a new creation; depend on his Spirit and live like one always.

{Jesus, you see right through me, and I want you to be pleased with what you see. I’m covered by your forgiveness and declared new; let my experience line up with my new nature. Make me an example the world needs to see. Amen.