Hypocrisy arises when a person has not experienced the transformative forgiveness of God. This hypocrisy manifests as an external attempt to appear righteous, even though the heart remains unchanged. True transformation comes through the gospel of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, which convicts and forgives sinners (1 Thess. 1:5). Only through forgiveness can hypocrisy be truly eradicated, as it allows for a change of heart. The foundation of forgiveness is a reverence for the Holy Spirit, for without forgiveness, one cannot enter into a restored relationship with God. Everyone is a sinner, and forgiveness is the cornerstone of the faith, highlighting our need for God’s grace.

In Luke 12:10, Jesus teaches that speaking against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but blaspheming against the Holy Spirit cannot. The distinction lies in the nature of the sin. Those who speak against the Son of Man may be temporarily rejecting Christ out of ignorance or indifference, but there remains the possibility of future repentance. An example of this is the Apostle Paul, who initially persecuted Christians before becoming a devoted follower of Christ (Acts 9:1-2; 1 Tim. 1:13). Another example is Peter, who denied Jesus three times, but later repented and was forgiven. These stories show that even those who deny Jesus can be forgiven if they repent and place their faith in Him.

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit, however, is a graver sin. It signifies a permanent, willful rejection of Christ and the gospel. The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in salvation by regenerating the heart and leading individuals to faith. To reject the Holy Spirit’s work is to reject the only means of being saved. Since the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, rejecting His work leads to a complete estrangement from God, leaving no path for forgiveness.

The Holy Spirit effectually calls sinners to salvation, regenerating their hearts and enabling them to believe. When someone continually rejects the gospel, they are not merely resisting an idea but refusing the Holy Spirit’s call to repentance and faith. This ongoing rejection is a deliberate and conscious choice that ultimately results in spiritual death. Blasphemy against the Spirit is more than disbelief; it is an intentional, persistent rejection of the truth of Christ until the end.

Throughout Scripture, there are numerous examples of individuals who had knowledge of Christ but still chose to reject Him. These people not only ignored His teachings but attributed His works to evil forces. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, as noted by theologian Darrel Bock, is not a single act of rejection but a continual refusal to accept the Spirit’s work and message concerning Jesus. This kind of rejection hardens the heart against any opportunity for repentance.

In modern times, figures like Adolf Hitler and Friedrich Nietzsche exemplify those who heard the gospel yet rejected it all their lives. Both were exposed to the truth of Christ but refused the Holy Spirit’s call to repentance. When the Holy Spirit’s persistent invitations to turn to Christ are ignored, the heart becomes closed off to the possibility of salvation. After continual rejection, there is nothing left but judgment and condemnation, as reflected in passages like Matthew 23:37-38.

Luke 12:11-12 further illustrates the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, especially during times of persecution. Jesus warns that Christians may face trials before religious or governmental authorities because of their faith in Him. These powerful figures may even have the authority to take their lives. However, in moments of trial, the true nature of a believer’s faith is revealed. Will they succumb to fear, or will they trust in the strength of the Holy Spirit, who promises to guide and sustain them during such difficult times (Acts 4:19-20; 16:25)?

Anxiety and worry, particularly in the face of persecution, reveal a lack of trust in God. The Bible teaches that anxiety is a sin because it stems from doubting God’s power and love (Phil. 4:6-7). If we believe in the living God, there is no reason to fear anything in this world. As Romans 8:31-35 reminds us, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Whether facing the likes of affliction, famine, or persecution, Christians are called to place their trust in the Holy Spirit, knowing He is with them. To fear anything other than God is to fall into the same patterns as unbelievers, missing the fullness of faith.

The Holy Spirit is not just a concept but a living, active presence in the lives of believers. He loves, protects, and empowers Christians to live lives free from hypocrisy. Through the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to live in faith and for the glory of God. As followers of Christ, we are called to avoid the “leaven of hypocrisy” by remaining faithful to the Spirit’s leading, trusting in His strength, and living in the freedom that forgiveness brings.

Huge crowds were gathering around Jesus but instead of appealing to the masses, Jesus specifically speaks to His disciples. The topic he wants to address is hypocrisy. As Christians, we practice a certain level of hypocrisy every day as we sin. We fail to apply God’s word to the fullest extent in every area of our lives. Just because we are all hypocrites does not mean hypocrisy is any less deadly. Hypocrisy is damning and deadly (Matthew 23:15). So Jesus warns his disciples to beware of the leaven of hypocrisy. Thankfully, Jesus has overcome the world which means he has also overcome hypocrisy (John 16:33; Hebrews 5:7). Jesus overcame hypocrisy by revering the Father. We must also fear God. True fear of God is trembling, adoration, and wonder at God’s goodness.

“Everyone who confesses me before men.” This is how we honor and fear Jesus the Son, by confession. To confess is to acknowledge. To confess is to receive Jesus as the only Lord and Savior. We are saved by this confession (Romans 10:9-10). To confess Jesus as Lord is to submit our wants, our will, and our life to Jesus. This means Jesus’ gospel becomes our greatest pursuit (Acts 20:24). To confess Jesus is to be like Him. We do not just serve Jesus but we are in Him and He is in us. If we are in Jesus then we are to be like Jesus, specifically in his suffering (Philippians 3:20-11). When we identify with Jesus, we follow His teaching, we practice His humility and we continue His work. We constantly acknowledge Jesus through the highs and the lows. The essence of confessing Jesus is self-denial (Luke 9:23).

“confess before men.” This means we confess openly and publicly. Public confession opens the door to persecution and tribulation. Do people know you are a Christian? Every choice is between the narrow versus the wide gate. Public confession is costly when your words match your actions. Your behavior will match your words when your head and heart align.

What is the result of our confession? The Son of Man will confess him before the angels of God. What an amazing reciprocation! The Son of Man is a messianic title. Jesus knows who He is and He will return just as He left. Daniel 7:13-14 explains that Jesus will establish his dominion and kingdom when He returns. At that moment He will stand with those who confessed Him and confess them before the Father. It is the most wondrous grace. Our judgment and punishment have already been fulfilled by Jesus on the cross. On the final day, we will avoid the final judgment when Jesus confesses us.

Jesus’ confession is not before men but before the angels. Imagine the scene, standing before God the Father and all the angels, with everything about us, revealed before all. That is the moment we need Jesus’ confession. We have no other hope but the confession of the Son of God. This is why Apostle Paul sincerely and faithfully endured all the sufferings of this life, putting his hope in the glory that is to be revealed. The suffering that comes with our confession before men is nothing compared to Christ’s glorious confession in heaven.

Therefore, it is our goal to show the world who Jesus is without hypocrisy. This is easier said than done. Tragically, many of us are like the Pharisees who Jesus wants to gather as a mother hen but reject Him. “He who denies Jesus before men will be denied before the angels of God.” Many will say “Lord, Lord” but Jesus will say to them I never knew you. When Jesus accuses them of denial it is not a one-time denial but a life of denial. Their denial is their hypocrisy. They have an outward appearance of holiness but an inward rejection. Like Judas the traitor, they have morality and hypocrisy. Peter though he also denied Jesus, his denial did not reflect his inner nature. Under morality, Judas was so racked with guilt he committed suicide. Peter, too, was racked with the same guilt but by God’s grace and love, he was able to repent. That is the difference between those who deny vs those who confess Jesus.

These are some signs of the absence of true self-denial.

• Jesus is Lord and He must be your Lord to be your Savior. Receiving Jesus as Savior but remaining as your own lord and doing everything according to your own will is not true salvation (Matthew 7:23).
• Practical Atheism. They deny Jesus as Lord in the areas of their life. Whether it is family, work, finances or hobbies, or whatever, think of the areas where you ignore Jesus or merely practice legalism. Being holy at church but pagan at home is not a true confession.
• Easy believism which produces nominal Christians. Remember Demas who loved the world and left Paul. The nominal Christians are compromising Christians who did not fully count the cost of following Christ.

Conclusion

“If some of you really believed that there is a hell, and that there is a heaven, as you believe other secular things, you would act very differently from what you now do. You know that you must be born again, but you are still strangers to the new birth. You are as religious as the seats you sit on, but no more; and you are as likely to get to heaven as those seats are, but not one whit more, for you are dead in sin, and death cannot enter heaven. You are like dunghills with snow upon them — while the snow lasts you look white and fair, but when the snow melts, the dunghill remains a dunghill still!” – Charles Spurgeon

To confess Christ does not require a skill or knowledge. It requires the gospel. Someone with a changed heart doesn’t make excuses. We sin every week so we are sad and remorseful. But we are reminded that God is merciful and gracious. He is waiting for our repentance and gives us faith so that our confession may be genuine.

The fear of God is central to the Christian life, as every believer in Christ is made new and called to live in reverence of Him (2 Cor. 5:17). This reverence, however, does not eliminate the existence of hypocrisy but does help to rid one’s life of its patterns. Hypocrisy remains a real temptation, yet through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians can resist and overcome it.

Hypocrisy, both in Jesus’ time and today, is marked by knowledge of the truth without true obedience. Hypocrites are often driven by worldly concerns, such as status and titles, rather than God’s Word. Like the scribes and Pharisees, they prioritize appearances over substance. As Charles Simeon observed, many nominal Christians may be nothing more than unconverted worldlings, revealing the seriousness of hypocrisy in the church.

To avoid hypocrisy, Jesus teaches that fearing God is essential (v 4). Fearing God requires that we do not fear man. Fear of man, when combined with professing a fear of God, is hypocrisy. Jesus explains that godly fear should only be directed toward God, who alone has the power over both body and soul. Men may kill the body, but only God can determine eternal destinies. This calls Christians to love and revere God fully, recognizing His ultimate authority.

People often do not fear God because they fail to understand His attributes. God is Sovereign, all-powerful, and just. He alone holds the power to give and take life and to cast souls into hell (v 5). His strength is unmatched, as David writes in the Psalms (Ps. 62:11), and His holiness and justice will prevail in the final judgment. However, God’s patience and kindness also lead sinners to repentance (Ro. 4:4), revealing His mercy alongside His judgment.

Jesus highlights God’s care by pointing out that He does not forget even a sparrow, which is considered worthless (v 6). If God cares for such small creatures, how much more does He care for humans, made in His image? This care is even more profound for Christians, whom He will never forget or abandon.

God’s intimate knowledge extends to every detail, even down to the hairs on our heads, which He has numbered (v 7). This signifies His deep personal care, especially in times of persecution, when even seemingly insignificant things like the hair on our heads are under His protection. God’s care is constant, and it reassures believers of His presence, even in the most difficult circumstances.

The difference between those who fear God and those who do not is clear, as illustrated by the Pharisee and the tax collector in Jesus’ parable. The Pharisee exalts himself, while the tax collector humbles himself before God (Lk. 18:10-14). Those who fear God are humble, knowing that God will exalt them, while those who lack this fear elevate themselves, only to be humbled.

Ultimately, hypocrisy stems from not fearing God. To avoid hypocrisy, Christians must continually seek to know, love, and fear God. This fear leads to true worship and a life free from hypocrisy, rooted in genuine reverence and humility before the Almighty God.

We are now entering Luke chapter 12 and we discover a very somber and serious truth addressed by Jesus. Jesus gives a warning and response. Jesus warns about many things in his ministry, including sin, pride, materialism, false messiahs, and much more. Here Jesus warns about hypocrisy.

As a Christian, most of us have been called a hypocrite at some point in our lives. Sometimes those accusations are true. It’s unavoidable as sinners. Jesus knew that the church would face hypocrisy and warned all of us. Being called a hypocrite is one of the greatest hindrances to our testimony and the world’s willingness to hear the gospel.

The Pharisees were trying to catch Jesus in something He might say after He had rebuked them with six woes. Amazingly, there was a huge crowd gathered around Jesus, so huge that they were trampling each other. This crowd was attracted to Jesus’ miracles but also His teachings without a hint of hypocrisy. Jesus was the sinless Son of God.

So Jesus sees the crowd and speaks to His disciples (Matthew 13:10-11). He warns them to beware of hypocrisy. People post signs on their gates to “Beware of dog”. To avoid a grave danger, we must beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Leaven means yeast. Spiritually speaking, we must watch out for the teaching of false teachers such as the Pharisees and Scribes. False teaching is so powerful and dangerous. The Pharisees didn’t for the pursuit of God’s glory

Why is false teaching so bad? First because, like yeast, it is very pervasive. It affects the entire dough. Also, it changes gradually like cancer. It starts small in the beginning but eventually spreads everywhere. It changes imperceptibly. It seems good at first and even beneficial so it’s hard to notice its harm.

Hypocrisy might not seem so bad in the beginning. Everyone does it. No one is perfect. It’s natural to be a hypocrite to some degree. Hypocrisy comes from the concept of stage acting where actors wore masks of emotions to hide the truth behind them. Hypocrisy is being two-faced, pretending to be something you’re not. It is a face of virtue with a life of vice behind it. “It is a sad thing to be Christians at a supper, heathens in our shops, and devils in our closets.” (Stephen Charnock) This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect at home but there should not be a significant difference between how you present yourself and how you are inside. The Pharisees claimed they wanted the Messiah to come but when He came they crucified Him! They claimed to seek the truth and light and when Jesus came, who is the truth incarnate and the light of the world, they murdered Him! Are we not the same? Do we claim to love Jesus but hate it when we are confronted with the truth? How can we avoid hypocrisy? Be a true Christian.

Hypocrisy is attractive but the end is tragic. It is an excellent counterfeit. So many profess faith but do not possess it. We are like Judas who follow Jesus diligently but ultimately betray. This is the danger of false religion and hypocrisy. It pretends to offer life but leads to death. Hypocrisy in the church is damaging to the church’s reputation. It hinders the ministry and influence of believers. We all have friends or family who have rejected the church because of the reputation of hypocritical pastors. Hypocrisy harms both Christians and unbelievers alike. It blinds people from the light. This is the damage of hypocrisy.

Therefore God judges hypocrisy in the last judgement. “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed”. Everything we have said in secret will be proclaimed publicly. What is in the dark will be brought to light. All will be made known. This is truly terrifying to the hypocrite. In the future, God will judge and His judgment is sure (Isaiah 33:2). There is no doubt that His judgment will come to pass.

He is omniscient and knows everything without the need to research (Psalm 147:5). Hypocrisy does not fool God at all because He knows everything plainly. The hypocrite cannot hide. For the believer, God’s omniscience is wonderful because Romans 5:8 declares that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. He knows all our sins and yet He loves us and cleansed us. This is peace and freedom to those who believe and have been saved.

God is omnipresent. He is not contained to any space or time but He is in all places at all times in a mysterious and unknowable way. Whatever we do is always before God. He is the eyewitness on the day of judgment. Without Jesus, we would all be doomed because God has always been there. On the other hand, where God is, He is there with His love. God is always with us with His love!

The unrepentant sinner is the hypocrite. They act as if everything is fine when they are doomed. They act as if their life belongs to them when it will be judged by God. Gandhi followed Hinduism his whole life but when faced with death, he had no joy or hope because he realized all his beliefs were hypocritical. Only the true religion of Jesus Christ can save us from hypocrisy. We are all sinners therefore we are all hypocrites. Only Jesus the light of the world can give us the light of life (John 8:12). If we are believers, then the Holy Spirit dwells in us and convicts us to repent of our hypocrisy.

Christians will also go through God’s judgment. It is not the judgment of heaven and hell, but the judgment of our works. Christians can still be hypocritical like Peter who was confronted by Paul (Galatians 2:11-14). Fighting and avoiding hypocrisy is a great work that will be rewarded in God’s judgment.

What are some ways Christians are hypocritical? We are all members of this church and church membership comes with many benefits and blessings. Church members also had duties to attend and serve. To only want the benefits without performing your duties is hypocrisy. Another hypocrisy that happens often is how we treat corporate worship. How do you enter into God’s presence when you worship on Sunday? Have you prayed and repented? The greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbors. Do you love God most and practice love for another? Jesus has given us a great commission, to make disciples and teach them. Have you shared the gospel? Are you an ambassador of Jesus Christ? Many Christians have not done these things because they are too busy or too distracted. So think about how you live your life and how you can live without hypocrisy. Let’s finish well in our spiritual race and receive the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8).

Today’s text highlights the response of the scribes and Pharisees to Jesus’ rebukes, which only confirmed the truth of His accusations. Their behavior, driven by wicked and satanic motives, reflected the false nature of their religion. This false religion, influenced by Satan, inevitably leads to wickedness and deception, as it is under his control.

Satan is described as an opportunist, always seeking to infiltrate the hearts of those who do not possess Jesus Christ. Even Christians must remain vigilant, especially during times of spiritual weakness, as Satan tries to influence them. Historically and in contemporary society, false religions—tools of Satan—are prevalent, with the aim of leading people away from God’s kingdom by rejecting Christ.

False religion instills doubt about Christ and His nature. The scribes’ hostility toward Jesus was evident as they questioned Him with malicious intent. Their questions were not sincere but were meant to challenge and discredit Him. Today, Satan and false religions continue to sow doubt in the minds of people, distorting the truth of God’s Word and leading them away from genuine faith.

One of the key deceptions of false religion is the notion that salvation can be achieved through good works rather than faith alone. This belief diminishes Jesus to merely a good person rather than recognizing Him as the Lord and Savior. Salvation, however, is only possible when one believes in Jesus as both Lord and Savior, not just as a moral teacher.

The tactics of false religion mirror those of Satan in the Garden of Eden, using deception and misleading strategies. The scribes and Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus with their questions, much like a hunter seeks to ensnare prey. This deception is rooted in lies, with Satan as the father of lies. In contrast, God’s truth stands firm, as He cannot lie.

False religion also blinds people to the truth that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees with strong words, urging them to repent and believe in the gospel. Their failure to recognize His divine nature led them to foolishly believe they could catch Him in error. Their questioning was based on a lack of true knowledge about Him.

Christians today are warned against being deceived by the superficialities of American Christianity and other false religions. Such religions are full of hypocrisy and lead to spiritual downfall. Only by God’s grace can one avoid these traps. True passion for Christ, as the gracious Shepherd and Savior, is essential for believers to follow and obey Him wholeheartedly.