Luke 12:1-3
1In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Luke 13:20-21
20And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Strong’s Concordance
hupokrisis: a reply, answer, playacting, hypocrisy
Original Word: ὑπόκρισις, εως, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: hupokrisis
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-ok’-ree-sis)
Definition: a reply, answer, playacting, hypocrisy
Usage: (lit: stage-playing), a response, answer, hypocrisy, dissembling.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 5272 hypókrisis (a feminine noun, cognate with 5273 /hypokritḗs, see there) – hypocrisy (literally, “under-judging”). 5272 /hypókrisis (“hypocrisy, insincerity”) literally refers to “someone acting under a mask,” and implies a specific application (type) of hypocrisy. See 5273 (hypokritēs).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from hupokrinomai
Definition
a reply, answer, playacting, hypocrisy
NASB Translation
hypocrisy (6).
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5272: ὑπόκρισις
ὑπόκρισις, ὑποκρίσεως, ἡ (ὑποκρίνομαι, which see);
- an answering; an answer (Herodotus).
- the acting of a stage-player (Aristotle, Polybius, Dionysius Halicarnassus, Plutarch, Lucian, Artemidorus Daldianus, others).
- dissimulation, hypocrisy: Matthew 23:28; Mark 12:15; Luke 12:1; Galatians 2:13; 1 Timothy 4:2; (James 5:12 Rec.st); 1 Peter 2:1 (cf. Buttmann, § 123, 2) (2 Macc. 6:25; Polybius 35, 2, 13; Lucian, am. 8; Aesop fab. 106 (284); (Philo, quis rer. div. haeres § 8; de Josepho § 14)).
Yeast is a common fungus that we rely on to bake fluffy bread. Since it’s so sensitive to light, it’s often placed in a dark place so that the light does not break apart the cell membranes and destroy them. Different colors of light destroy the cells at different rates…
Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for this teaching, today is going to be about action. We talk a big game. At least I talk a big game. Is there anyone in this gathering today that talks a big game? You know what I mean when I ask this question, correct? And some of you may be saying to yourself, “well I don’t even talk that much at all, so probably not me…” Well, then you more than likely talk a big game to yourself. Anyone out there talk a big game to themself?
We have great plans and grand ideas for success – for life – for relationships. And most times it seems we have the best of intentions – I know that I do. Typically this is where I’ll insert some anecdotal diet story, and trust me I’ve had plenty, you’ve heard most of them. But it’s true. And most of us have this wondrous theology that exists somewhere in our mind, this set of moral guidelines and beliefs that we build, if not our entire, then most of, our paradigm around.
And it lacks – or we lack – or the application and real life results of our “big-talk” dies a death of a thousands cuts.
Side note: Lingchi, translated variously as the slow process, the lingering death, or slow slicing, and also known as death by a thousand cuts, was a form of torture and execution used in China from roughly 900 until it was banned in 1905. It was also used in Vietnam and Korea. In this form of execution, a knife was used to methodically remove portions of the body over an extended period of time, eventually resulting in death.
But I digress. And now I’m just mixing metaphors. Let’s get to Jesus – and let’s stay with Jesus for the rest of this teaching. Jesus is the Way. I’m not sure if you heard me say that so I’ll say it again for you – Jesus is the Way,
The Anointed
Redeemed
The Savior
The King
Jesus was and is the embodiment and the personification of Truth, Love – he is “big-talk” fleshed out – in action. Luke chapter 12 is going to give us some action items today.
- Have No Fear
- Acknowledge Christ Before Men
- Do Not Be Anxious
- You Must Be Ready
- Not Peace, but Division
- Interpreting the Time
- Settle with Your Accuser
Have No Fear
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Stop living in fear. Fear of relationships, fear of regret, fear of death. Fear of life! What’s your biggest fear? Shout them out today – or are you afraid? You are valued and Loved and you were bought with a price. This world is a cesspool and it is full of evil. It will kill your flesh, don’t allow it to taint your soul – it cannot and will not kill your soul – you realize your worth in Christ! Jesus is life and it is his promise to you.
Acknowledge Christ Before Men
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Stop holding back what you believe. When something is difficult or troublesome, do you believe what you say you believe – do you even say what you believe – where’s that “big-talk” at? Those that would deny God and what and who He is – they will in turn be denied before the heavenly beings. You can be forgiven for wrong speech, wrong actions, but there is something that you cannot and will not be forgiven for – blaspheming the Holy Spirit – Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control – against these things there is no law. Figure out the blaspheming on your own – or join us in two Wednesdays when we’ll discuss this very topic in small group.
“But what do I say?” Fear not! The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say. Stand firm in Truth and proclaim the Gospel.
Do Not Be Anxious
22And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Anxiety in America is a plague. Anxiety in America is a plague. Anxiety in America is a plague.
Anxiety in your family is a plague. Anxiety in your family is a plague. Anxiety in your family is a plague.
Anxiety in the Church is a plague. Anxiety in the Church is a plague. Anxiety in the Church is a plague.
We worry and we doubt and we are consumed by what we have and what we do not have. We look out on an unaccepting world and so we create a world all our own – with its own demons and lies. There is a plandemic in this world right now today – it is anxiety.
People believe the lies that they have no value and no worth – that they were not the chosen of God and live accordingly – they do not believe the Truth of the Gospel that they gather weekly to learn – and in so doing they put on a mask and play life, play Christian, play husband, father, son, wife, mother, daughter – with no basis in reality and are consumed from the inside out from the leaven of the pharisees – It’s hypocrisy, you see, it’s you and it’s me.
For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
You Must Be Ready
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Be ready, because Jesus is coming back. He holds the keys to Hades, He’s defeated death – and He promised you that He will return. You will not know when – so be ready. It always feels this way, but I’m telling you – wake up, sleeper, arise from the dead!
Jesus is on His way!
He comes to claim all that is His, and He’s coming on the clouds with Glory and Majesty to trample the wine presses, His robe dipped in the blood of evil destroyed.
Not Peace, but Division
49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Well that’s not very nice Jesus – news flash – Jesus isn’t always nice and He says some very pointed things. Light enters darkness to overcome it, not to join it, not to placate and masquerade – even those closest to you. Have nothing to do with evil – and you all know that it exists and when you see it – don’t fool yourself – allow it a foothold and it will leaven the entire loaf. It’s hypocrisy, you see, it’s you and it’s me.
Interpreting the Time
54He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Pay attention. Wake up! We fight right now today – not against flesh and blood but against darkness, spiritual forces, and principalities. Evil is showing its ugly mug and we can realize what is happening or we can perrish. I wanna go to Heaven. I wanna climb up in my mother’s lap and hold tight. But right now I need to watch and listen – wars and rumors of wars – the middle East, the Temple Mount – the New World Order – Wake Up Sleeper, Arise From The Dead – and Light of Christ Will Shine on You!
Settle with Your Accuser
57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
This may be the biggest one here today – we have such an entitlement mentality as if something is owed to us outside of redemption and eternal life – man, life isn’t even owed to us. We expect a system to save us. “The democrats can do it! No the republicans can do it! No we need a middle ground party!” No institution, no government, no secret society, no crazy conspiracy theory, no accurate conspiracy theory is gonna save you – Q is not gonna save you – Donal Trump is not gonna save you – Masks aren’t gonna save you and jabs aren’t gonna save you – America is not gonna save you. Jesus is though. And Jesus is the only one that can. Don’t judge and banish others to Hades before you even allow them the chance to have their evil judged outside of their soul – we’ve lost that and perhaps it’s our greatest loss. God will sort out the evil – we can call it out and we can fight – but we are told to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – to offer compassion and kindness – to live in truth and not put on a mask and placate – live on a stage and perform rituals that only serve to expose our hypocrisy, you see, it’s you and it’s me.
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
- What does hypocrisy mean to you?
- What does hypocrisy look like?
- What does Jesus say about hypocrisy?
- Who/what is Jesus calling out?
- What does Jesus tell us to do?
Playcating, acting, acting under a mask.
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong,
I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to
comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
About Reunion Community Church
We are a Bible teaching Christian church in Peoria, AZ. We love God and teach His Truth. We invite you, your family and friends to join us on the faith journey, growing closer to one another, the Christian community of believers at Reunion, and most importantly with God. Read more about the timeless Truth we build our lives and faith in Christ on HERE.
We are conveniently located just off the 101 on 83rd Ave and Cactus Rd. Join us on Sunday mornings, Weds. evenings, and throughout the week at our small groups, meeting in homes around the Valley, including Surprise, Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, Goodyear, Litchfield, and more. Connect with us on Facebook and watch our live streaming service on YouTube.
