April 18, 2021

Religion and Hidden Sin

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Luke 11:37-54
Service Type:

Introduction

Looking at religious hypocrisy

Can often give a good impression but harbour many hidden sins
God will judge the religious hypocrite – whether in this or the next life
Sometimes a religious hypocrites cover is blown and this can lead others to mock
This brings great sadness to the Church of Jesus Christ
This can damage the faith of weak believers

Jesus deals with religious hypocrisy differently

Consider how Jesus treats the sinner in the streets vs the religious leaders
He pronounces woes against the religious leaders
What would God have thought of the funeral yesterday?

The passage in context:

Jesus invited for a meal in a pharisee’s house
Perhaps Jesus saw this as an opportunity to speak against their religious hypocrisy
Jesus did not obey the religious customs

Example – ceremonial hand washing

Jesus know what the pharisee was thinking – v38

Jesus speaks into the situation

Jesus speaks against three sins:

The sin of inward miserliness
The sin of outward show
The sin of corporate oppression

The sin of inward miserliness

The pharisees loved to impress others

Examples
They were very good at covering up their inner life

Jesus did not follow their outward show – v39

The pharisees should have known the Scriptures:

Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart

Jesus had said that sins proceed from the heart
Jesus told them it is what comes out of a man that defiles (not what goes in)

Can you imagine saying this to your host?

The Greek word for ‘greed’ means robbery and extortion
Examples

Jesus showed them to be unclean

v40-41
Gives alms from within – charity, pity and kindness
You need a changed heart and transformation on the inside
Giving to the poor does not automatically you clean
Salvation is by faith and not by works
A changed heart will affect you outwardly

God knows our hearts

What are we like?
Questions

Tithing

Jesus says that the pharisees should tithe

But they had lost perspective and gone beyond the law of God

What about us? Do we major on minor matters?
Christianity is not just about tithing or attendance at church – but a relationship with the living God
Micah 6:8, Zech 7:8-10
Example of lawyer and doctor

The sin of outward show (v43-44)

Our society encourages outward performance

Give honour where honour is due
We have gone beyond this
We love the praise of men

The pharisees

Loved the best seats in the synagogue
Loved greetings in the market place

The pharisees and scribes are hypocrites

Like play actors
Explanation of white-washing graves
How many people today are being polluted by religious teachings?

What was the mood and feeling in the pharisees house – cf v53-54

Jesus was concerned for the pharisees
Jesus was concerned for the masses that they would not be duped by false teachers
Scripture warns against false teachers

Who are those that we should be wary of today?

Those who don’t preach the gospel
Jesus was unafraid to speak the truth

The sin of corporate oppression

Loading people with burdens (v46)

Example of some pharisaical laws
We must not reduce Christianity to a set of rules
It is about knowing and loving God
It is about the work of God in our lives
The commands of God are not burdensome

Approving of their father’s sin in killing the prophets (v47-51)

The pharisees thought they were the children of the prophets
Jesus says they are part of the group that killed the prophets

Taking away knowledge (v52)

Imaging Jesus saying this to religious leaders today

Strong words from the Lord Jesus Christ

Our Response

Not pointing the finger at others
Ask the Lord to search and change our heart

Consider that many of the pharisees and priests did believe when the apostles preached

How do you respond to this message?
Ask God to show us our sin and come to the cross
Ask God to fill us with His love