PRETENDERS

PRETENDERS

Text: Luke 6:46.

Delivered on: July 1, 2007. Streetsboro.

Introduction.

1. Several years ago there was a popular television show called The Pretender.

2. It was about a man who was smart enough to pretend to be a doctor, lawyer, scientist, or whatever, and get away with it.

3. The religious world is full of pretenders.

4. The are people who put on a good show but upon further investigation are not what they pretend to be.

5. We call these people hypocrites.

Body.

1. What is an hypocrite?
   
   

   1. Hupokrites – One who answers, an interpreter. An actor, stage player. Pretender.

      1. These actors would wear masks on stage and play the part of another person.

      2. They often used mechanical devises to disguise their voices.

      3. They were playing a part.
         
         

   2. How did Jesus use this word?

      1. He used it to refer to men who serve God outwardly to receive the praise of men.

         1. Matthew 6:2. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

         2. Matthew 6:5. "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

      2. He used it to refer to people who offer Him “lip-service” but not faithful obedience.

         1. Matthew 15:7-8. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ⁸ 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

         2. Luke 6:46. "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?

      3. He used it to refer to people who took advantage of others in the name of religion. Matthew 23:14. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

      4. He used it to refer to people who, by their teachings, lead people further away from the truth. Matthew 23:15. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

      5. He uses it to refer to those who make a show of outward obedience but neglect the weightier matters of the law. Matthew 23:23. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

      6. He uses it to refer to those who make a show of piety but are inwardly full of sin. Matthew 23:25-26. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

      7. He uses it to refer to those who make untrue statements. Matthew 23:29-30. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'
         
         

2. Are we hypocrites?
   
   

   1. Are we obedient to God because we want the praise of men?

      1. There are a lot of good reasons to serve God. The praise of men is not one of them.

      2. Those who serve God for the praise of men have their reward.

      3. Those who preach, teach, lead singing, ect… for the praise of men are pretenders.

      4. Those who are only concerned with the praise of men will be faithful to what men want and not what God wants.
         
         

   2. Do we offer lip-service to God but keep our hearts far from Him?

      1. Do we claim to love the Lord but not live as if we do?

      2. Matthew 7:21. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

      3. Does the world know that we love God more than…

         1. Our families.

         2. Baseball.

         3. Football.

         4. Basketball.

         5. Hunting.

         6. Etc.

      4. Those who offer lip-service only are pretenders.
         
         

   3. Do we keep the finer points of God’s law but neglect the weightier matters?

      1. Some people just go through the motions of Christianity.

      2. They may attend every service.

      3. They may give.

      4. But their heart is far from God.

      5. They do what they do, not out of love for God, but maybe because it is what is expected of them.

      6. Maybe they do it because it makes them feel good about themselves.

      7. Maybe they are trying to earn their way to heaven by their good works.

      8. Romans 10:1-3. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

      9. Those who just go through the motions are pretenders.
         
         

   4. Do we make a show of piety but inwardly are full of sin?

      1. We know that all Christians sin.

      2. But Christians should not be sinful… or full of sin.

      3. Christians should not be sinners.

         1. Sinner – harmatolos.

         2. Not free from sin.

         3. Devoted to sin.

         4. Heathen.

      4. Do you have secret sin in your life? Where no one can see but God.

      5. Romans 6:1-2. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

      6. Christians are to keep themselves unspotted. James 1:27. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

      7. Christians are washed. Acts 22:16. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

      8. If we put on an outward show of piety but inwardly are full of sin, then we are pretenders.
         
         

   5. Do we make untrue statements?

      1. In the songs we sing…

         1. I love to tell the story of unseen things above. But we never tell it.

         2. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. But we don’t put God first.

         3. I’m satisfied with just a cottage below, a little silver and a little gold. But we’re not satisfied.

         4. I want to be a worker. But we don’t really.

      2. Ephesians 4:25. Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
         
         

3. Hypocrites cause great harm.
   
   

   1. The world hates hypocrites.
      
      

   2. Romans 2:21-24. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? ²² You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? ²⁴ For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.

      1. Hypocrisy can actually cause people to blaspheme God.

      2. “That church is full of a bunch of hypocrites.”
         
         

   3. Hypocrites will be lost if they do not repent.