The three main areas of our Christian walk are summarized in Matthew 6: our outward horizontal relationship with others (giving); our vertical relationship with God the Father (prayer); and our inward relationship with ourselves (fasting or self-mortification- putting off the dominance of the old nature). Jesus teaches that in each of these areas we are to beware of hypocrisy and seek to live authentically before God.
In our attempts to live righteously we can slip into the pitfall of being a Christian 'show-off'. There is a danger that we sound the trumpet when we give (or minister) to others, that we pray to impress people more than God, or that we fast to be rewarded with a reputation as being a holy man or woman. If our goal is to put on a show before men, to be accepted and approved by others, that is all the reward we will get.
An eastern ascetic who had covered himself in ashes as an act of humiliation sat on a prominent street corner when he was asked by a tourist if he would mind having his picture taken. "Yes, but let me re-arrange my ashes." he replied.
Jesus said, "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. "; (Matthew 6:1 NIV).
The phrase 'to be seen' is from the Greek theaomai . The first letters are the same as those found in the English word 'theater'. The word implies putting on a show before an audience of many. In his magnificent orientation session with his disciples, the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches that we are to live our lives before an audience of One, our Father in heaven. It is He who will ultimately appraise our lives, not our contemporary culture or peers (Matthew 7:24-27). If our hypocritical human nature gets in the way, there will be a subtle motive to impress others with our piety. We will be tempted to 'rearrange our ashes'.
The word hypocrisy comes from hupokrites which means to judge from behind or underneath a mask. In the Classic Greek it referred to an actor who assumed a role on the outside other than what he was on the inside.
Human history is full of hypocrisy; people assuming to be what they are not. It is part of our Adamic nature. The Bible is full of accounts of hypocrisy from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus deals with those who presume to be righteous, generous with men and intimate with God, who are at the same time subtlety motivated by a desire to feel good about themselves and want to make an impression on others.
Some shy away from religion because they see that so many hypocrites are involved. This may be true. But the only way to break free from hypocrisy, the sham of assuming a role other than your true identity, is to come to the Father through Jesus Christ.
Jesus taught in the parable of the prodigal son, that when the transgressor realized his condition and decided to return to his father, 'he came to himself'. He peeled away the layers of illusion and hypocrisy and came to understand his identity as a child of his father. Returning and responding sons and daughters will be progressively transformed by the Spirit to be more true on the outside to who God has made them to be on the inside. By the time we see Christ, we shall be like him, with no trace of hypocrisy.
Unrepentant hypocrites are assigned a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:51). That is why if a person protests that the church is full of hypocrites, you do not have to disagree, but should be quick to point out that if they don't like hypocrisy they better make sure they don't go to hell.
What is the cure for hypocrisy? To live before an audience of One, rather than many. We need to let the love of the Father pre-empt the love of the world, so we are governed by our relationship with Him rather than the lust of the eyes - natural attractions, the lust of the flesh - natural appetites, or the pride of life - natural ambitions (1John 2:15). We live before the Father, who sees all, who knows all, and can handle all. He cannot be fooled. He loves us for who we are. We can drop all masks. All of them.
How do we reconcile Matthew 6:1 with Matthew 5:16 which tells us to let our light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise our Father in heaven? The answer is clear. What is our motivation? Is it to win the praise of the Father or the praise of men?
A.B. Bruce summed it up this way, "We should show when tempted to hide, and hide when tempted to show."
Progressively transforming before an audience of One,
David MacAdam, Pastor/Teacher
New Life Community Church