Hypocrisy (gasp!)

Matthew 23:1-13

​Jesus has a “zero tolerance policy” for blatant hypocrisy from those who should know better. People who are knowledgeable about scripture and claim to love God should live in a way that honors Him and the others He created. Unfortunately, the sins of those in the church globally, especially hypocrisy within leadership, have caused many to turn away from faith. Notice, though, how Jesus directs us to look only to the Father and Messiah for our ultimate authority. We cannot allow the imperfection of other Christians to skew our view of our perfect God.

Questions for further thought:
1. How has your life affected others’ view of the church and faith in God?
2. When have you put church leadership on a pedestal only to be disillusioned later when they inevitably mess up or fail?  

​Challenge: Read the rest of Matthew 23 and consider if Jesus is speaking to you. Are there areas in your life that need more humility? Do you need to have a more compassionate attitude toward those who struggle with sin since you aren’t perfect either?