Matt. 23:13; Psa. 55:9-15; Gal. 1:8-9; Lk. 12:1-3

In the day of political correctness in which we live, where we aren’t supposed to be harsh in our opinions of anyone or any situation, Jesus’ words in Matt. 23 might be considered out of line.  Most people don’t think of Jesus in the light of this scathing, public condemnation of the leaders of His day.

Recently I had a conversation with someone about David’s imprecatory Psalms, the ones where he prayed down pretty harsh judgments on his enemies.  I suppose most people struggle with these Psalms (e.g. Psa. 55; 109), wondering if David ought not just forgive his enemies like Jesus did when He was being nailed to the cross.  But upon careful examination the New Testament is actually in sync with David.  You may not remember but the Apostle Paul pronounced a curse on those professing believers who did not love Jesus (1 Cor. 16:22) as well as on those who preach another gospel than what he preached (Gal. 1:8-9).  

We have recently heard Jesus speak of His adversaries being ground to powder (Mt. 21:44) and cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt. 22:13).  Now we have come to an entire chapter and a public discourse pronouncing woe (Greek ouai, an interjection of grief or denunciation according to Strong’s definition) repeatedly on the ones who opposed Him, His enemies.

Why is this happening?  A careful study of David, Paul and Jesus will show there was a common thread in all these harsh judgments.  The people they condemned were people who in some way claimed to be part of the people of God and yet led God’s people astray by their false lies and teaching.  When David imprecated his enemies were opposing the will of God, the covenant God made with David to establish him and his kingdom.  David’s enemies were God’s enemies.  The same was true with Paul, and certainly with Jesus as well.  

These enemies were hypocrites.  Jesus uses that term in Mt. 23:13, a Greek word referring to an actor under an assumed character, a stage-player (Strong). This was a major issue that Jesus had addressed with His disciples earlier in their training (Luke 12:1-3; Matt. 16:5-12).  In the work that God is doing in the community of the righteous, whether in the Old or New Testament settings, hypocrisy is a killer!  This duplicity in the heart of the deceitful person is a problem for him, but it is compounded by what it does to those around him.  He is very Satanic, being a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Acts 20:29), seeming to be angels of light (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

The reason for taking some time to acknowledge this is because we need to understand that the loving, forgiving and gracious people of God need to hate and despise hypocrisy. It is leaven that, even from one person, will infiltrate and pollute the entire lump, the entire body of believers.  We must be loving.  But love must abound … in knowledge and all discernment so that we may be sincere (pure, unhypocritical) and without offense till the day of Christ (Phil. 1:9-11).