FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER

MATTHEW: THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 182

TITLE: HYPOCRISY AND HARD-HEARTEDNESS

TEXT: MATTHEW 27:6-14

INTRODUCTION: (1) HYPOCRISY IS DEALT WITH IN SCRIPTURE FROM START TO FINISH.

* THERE ARE HYPOCRITES IN GENESIS AND IN REVELATION.

** THERE ARE HYPOCRITES WHEN THE WORLD BEGINS AND WHEN IT ENDS.

*** THERE ARE HYPOCRITES IN EVERY FORM OF RELIGION, INCLUDING THE TRUE FORM – CHRISTIANITY.

**** THERE WAS A HYPOCRITE AMONG THE 12 DISCIPLES AND THERE ARE HYPOCRITES IN THE LEADERSHIP OF CHURCHES TODAY.

(2) HYPOCRITES ARE ALWAYS AROUND, FOR IT IS PART OF THE SINFULLNESS OF MAN TO PLAY THE GAME OF RELIGION.

* BECAUSE OF THAT, ONE OF THE GREATEST EXCUSES THAT PEOPLE GIVE IN WHY THEY DON’T COME TO CHURCH IS, “I DON’T GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE OF ALL THE WHAT?” (THE HYPOCRITES)

** AND I WISH I HAD A QUARTER FOR EVERY TIME I’VE HEARD THAT ONE, FOR I WOULD BE A RICH MAN.

*** IN RESPONSE TO THAT, ARTHUR R. ADAMS SAID: “DON’T STAY AWAY FROM CHURCH BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY HYPOCRITES, THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE.”

**** AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE BEST PLACE A HYPOCRITE CAN BE IS IN A CHURCH WHERE THE WORD OF GOD IS EXALTED AND PROCLAIMED, FOR THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD, THE HYPOCRITE’S LIFE CAN BE CHANGED.

(3) HIS OR HER HYPOCRISY CAN BE REVEALED SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME A TRUE CHRISTIAN RATHER THAN JUST A PROFESSING ONE, A PRETENDER.

* FOR YOU SEE A HYPOCRITE IS ONE WHO PRETENDS TO BE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE THAT THEY REALLY ARE NOT.

** A HYPOCRITE IS AN ACTOR, ONE WHO PLAYS A PART, A PHONY, ONE WHO MASKS THEIR TRUE IDENTITY AND ASSUMES A ROLE.

*** AND THE BIGGEST HYPOCRITES IN CHRIST’S DAY WERE THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS, THE SCRIBES, THE PHARISEES, THE PRIESTS.

**** IN FACT, IN MATTHEW 23, JESUS MAKES THE WORD HYPOCRITE A SYNONYM FOR SCRIBE AND FOR A PHARISEE.

(4) AND HE GIVES THEM A SCATHING REBUKE.

* FOR HE CALLS THEM SONS OF HELL, BLIND GUIDES, FOOLS, ROBBERS, SELF-INDULGENT, WHITEWASHED TOMBS, FULL OF HYPOCRISY AND LAWLESSNESS, SERPENTS, VIPERS AND PERSECUTORS AND MURDERERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE.

** AND THE REASON HE DID THAT IS BECAUSE FALSE RELIGION IS A GREAT HINDRANCE TO THE GOSPEL AND GENUINE CHRISTIANITY.

*** AND THESE FALSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN JESUS’ DAY ACTUALLY HATED JESUS, FOR HE EXPOSED THEIR HYPOCRISY.

**** FOR THEIR ONLY CONCERN WAS THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF THINGS. THEY HAD PERFECTED EXTERNAL OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW, THEY HAD MASTERED THE ART OF APPEARING HOLY IN OTHER MEN’S EYES.

(5) THEIR CLOTHING, THEIR ACTIONS, AND THEIR RELIGIOUS RITUALS WERE ALL AIMED AT THE APPEARANCE OF HOLINESS, BUT THEIR HEARTS WERE HARD AND ICE COLD.

* AND ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION FALSE RELIGION AND HYPOCRISY STRONGLY MAGNIFY THE INSIGNIFICANT AND MINIMIZE OR ENTIRELY IGNORE THE TRULY SPIRITUAL.

** THEY ARE INCONSISTENT, INSENSITIVE, AND HAVE A DOUBLE STANDARD, MAJORING ON MINORS AND ARE RATIONALISTS WHEN IT COMES TO JUSTIFYING THEIR WRONG BEHAVIOR.

*** AND WE WILL SEE THIS CLEARLY IN OUR TEXT TODAY WITH THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE SANHEDRIN, THE JEWISH HIGH COUNCIL.

**** WE WILL SEE THIS IN HOW THEY HANDLE THE BLOOD MONEY OF JESUS THAT THEY HAD GIVEN OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHILE ENGAGING IN TREACHERY AND DECEIT CONCERNING HAVING JESUS MURDERED THROUGH JEWISH AND ROMAN KANGAROO COURTS.

(6) WE WILL SEE HYPOCRISY AND HARD-HEARTEDNESS IN THEIR BEHAVIOR AND ACTIONS, WHICH IS THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE TODAY.

* AND WE’LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS UNDER THAT TITLE. NO. 1 THE ACTION OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS, VV. 6-10; THE ACCUSATION BY THE JEWS, VV. 11&12; AND NO. 3 THE ATTITUDE OF JESUS, VV. 13&14.

** AND WITH THOSE POINTS AS AN OUTLINE, LOOK AT V. 6 WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE ACTION OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS. LOOK AT MATTHEW 27:6 PLEASE.

I. THE ACTION, (READ V. 6)

A. NOW AT THIS POINT JUDAS ISCARIOT HAS ALREADY COMMITTED SUICIDE, WHICH WE STUDIED LAST SUNDAY AND THE SUBJECT OF SUICIDE.

* BUT BEFORE HE TOOK HIS LIFE, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT GUILT IN BETRAYING CHRIST FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER, HE TOOK THAT MONEY TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS AND THEY DIDN’T WANT IT. IT WAS BLOOD MONEY.

** SO IN AN ACT OF DESPERATION JUDAS THREW THE PIECES OF SILVER INTO THE SANCTUARY AT THE TEMPLE AND RAN OUT OF THERE.

*** NOW THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION IN WHAT TO DO WITH THIS MONEY, WHAT ACTION WILL THEY TAKE.

**** WELL, ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES HAVE SOME SCRUPLES, SOME ETHICS.

1. IT’S UNLAWFUL FOR THEM IN THEIR LAWS TO TAKE BLOOD MONEY AND PUT IT INTO THE TEMPLE TREASURY.

* IN OTHER WORDS, THIS DIRTY MONEY THAT WAS PAID OUT BY THEM TO HAVE JESUS ARRESTED AND ULTIMATELY KILLED CAN’T BE USED IN THEIR WORSHIP SYSTEM.

** ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LEGAL PROPRIETY, ABOUT LEGAL PROCEDURE, WHEN THEY BROKE EVERY LAW IN THE BOOK TO PAY OUT THIS BLOOD MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEIR HYPOCRISY AND HARD-HEARTEDNESS IS INCREDIBLE.

*** FOR YOU SEE BY ADMITTING THAT THE MONEY THAT JUDAS ISCARIOT BROUGHT BACK WAS THE PRICE OF BLOOD HERE IN V. 6, BLOOD MONEY, THEY CONDEMNED THEMSELVES.

**** FOR BY DEFINITION, THE PRICE OF BLOOD REFERRED TO MONEY ILLEGITIMATELY PAID AND RECEIVED TO FALSELY CONVICT A MAN OF A CRIME THAT LED TO HIS EXECUTION.

2. FOR DEUTERONOMY 27:25 SAYS: “CURSED IS HE WHO ACCEPTS A BRIBE TO STRIKE DOWN AN INNOCENT PERSON. AND ALL THE PEOPLE SHALL SAY, AMEN.”

* AND TECHNICALLY JUDAS ISCARIOT ACCEPTED A BRIBE, BLOOD MONEY TO BETRAY JESUS.

** AND THAT MONEY CAME FROM THE CHIEF PRIESTS.

*** FOR MATTHEW 26:14-16 SAYS: “THEN ONE OF THE TWELVE NAMED JUDAS ISCARIOT, WENT TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS,

V. 15 – AND SAID, “WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE ME TO DELIVER HIM UP TO YOU?” AND THEY WEIGHED OUT TO HIM THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER.

V. 16 – AND FROM THEN ON HE BEGAN LOOKING FOR A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BETRAY HIM.

**** NOW STRANGELY AND PERVERSELY THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS HAD NO PROBLEM ABOUT TAKING THE MONEY OUT OF THE TEMPLE TREASURY TO PAY JUDAS FOR THE BETRAYAL, BUT NOW THEY HAD QUALMS, A PROBLEM, WITH PUTTING IT BACK, THAT WASN’T LEGAL.

3. BUT IN DOING WHAT THEY DID, THEY SHOWED THEIR HYPOCRISY AND HARD-HEARTEDNESS, THEIR INCONSISTENCY, THEIR RATIONALISM.

* AND IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE HOW CALLOUS AND UNFEELING THEY WERE ABOUT THEIR CRIME, IN CONTRAST TO THE OVERWHELMING AGONY OF JUDAS THAT DROVE HIM TO KILL HIMSELF IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO RELIEVE HIS GUILT.

** AND MOST LIKELY THEY HAVE SOME GUILT, FOR LOOK AT WHAT ACTION THEY’LL TAKE IN V. 7. LOOK AT V. 7 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 7. NOW THE CHIEF PRIESTS COUNSELED TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO USE THE MONEY TO BUY THE POTTER’S FIELD AS A BURIAL PLACE FOR STRANGERS.

* SO TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK GOOD AND ALSO TO SALVE THEIR OWN CONSCIENCES, THEY HIT UPON THE IDEA OF BUYING A FIELD WHERE POTTERS HAD COLLECTED CLAY TO USE IN THEIR TRADE.

** AND PERHAPS THE CLAY WAS DEPLETED AND THE FIELD WAS AVAILABLE FOR A CHEAP PRICE.

*** AND THESE RELIGIOUS LEADERS MAY HAVE REASONED THAT THEY WOULD USE THE DEFILED MONEY TO BUY A DEFILED AND USELESS FIELD IN WHICH TO BURY DEFILED STRANGERS, A TERM SOMETIMES USED BY JEWS AS A SYNONYM, A EUPHEMISM FOR GENTILES – STRANGERS.

**** OR THE FIELD MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO BURY ANY TRAVELER WHO DIED WHILE VISITING JERUSALEM, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE INDIGENT.

1. BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE WORD STRANGER MEANS HERE, THE CHIEF PRIESTS DEALT WITH THEIR OWN GUILT BY DOING SOMETHING GOOD.

* AND DO YOU REALIZE THAT A LOT OF GOOD CARRIED OUT BY PEOPLE THAT DON’T KNOW CHRIST IS MOTIVATED BY GUILT.

** IT’S THEIR PENTENCE, IT’S THEIR WAY TO DEAL WITH GUILT. AND NORMALLY THE FRUIT OF THAT LABOR IS PRIDE, SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.

*** AND RATHER THAN DEAL WITH THEIR SIN, DO SOMETHING GOOD TO TRY TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BAD.

**** IT’S THE WORLD’S WAY TO DEAL WITH SIN RATHER THAN REPENT AND TURN TO CHRIST. AND THE WORLD IS BIG ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT, GREAT HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS THAT LEAD TO PRIDE AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MOVING FURTHER AWAY FROM CHRIST.

2. AND BASICALLY THAT’S WHAT THE CHIEF PRIESTS DO HERE. NOW LOOK AT V. 8 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 8. NOW MATTHEW EXPLAINS HERE THAT THE FIELD BECAME AND REMAINED KNOWN, SOME 30 YEARS LATER WHEN HIS GOSPEL WAS WRITTEN AS THE FIELD OF BLOOD.

* AND THE POTTER’S FIELD HAD COME TO BE CALLED THE FIELD OF BLOOD, BECAUSE IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAD BEEN PURCHASED WITH BLOOD MONEY.

** AND BY THAT NAME, THE ENTIRE CITY OF JERUSALEM TESTIFIED TO JESUS’ INNOCENCE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HE HAD BEEN FALSELY ACCUSED, FALSELY CONDEMNED AND FALSELY EXECUTED.

*** FOR YOU SEE IT WAS THE FIELD OF BLOOD BECAUSE IT WAS PURCHASED WITH BLOOD MONEY FOR THE HEAD OF JESUS. AND BY CALLING IT BLOOD MONEY AND THE FIELD OF BLOOD, IT COMMUNICATES MONEY THAT WAS USED ILLEGALLY FOR AN ILLEGAL CRIME.

**** YET THOUGH JESUS WAS INNOCENT, THIS WAS STILL A PART OF THE PLAN OF GOD, LOOK AT V. 9 PLEASE.

D. READ V. 9. NOW MATTHEW AGAIN APPEALS TO THE O.T. TO INDICATE THAT THE EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF JESUS WERE NOT RANDOM, BUT PROPHESIED AND PREDETERMINED IN THE PLAN OF GOD.
 

* AND THIS HAS BEEN A REPETITIOUS BUT IMPORTANT THEME, JESUS WAS NOT A VICTIM OF BAD CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT A VICTOR FULFILLING THE WILL OF HIS FATHER TO BE THE SAVIOR OF HIS PEOPLE.

** WHAT GOD ORDAINED IN ETERNITY, SINFUL MAN FREELY CHOOSE TO DO IN TIME. THE PLAN OF GOD WAS UNFOLDING.

*** AND MATTHEW REMINDS US ABOUT THIS USING AN O.T. PROPHECY ABOUT THE 30 PIECES OF SILVER. NOW LOOK AT V. 10 PLEASE.

E. READ V. 10. NOW AGAIN PROPHECY COMMUNICATED IN THE O.T. TALKS ABOUT THE POTTER’S FIELD THAT WOULD BE USED AS A BURIAL SITE, AGAIN COMMUNICATING THESE EVENTS ARE NOT HAPPENING BY ACCIDENT BUT BY PROVIDENCE.

* BUT AT THIS POINT, LET ME SAY THAT MATTHEW QUOTING THIS PROPHECY FROM JEREMIAH IN V. 9 HAS CAUSED SOME INTERPRETERS TO ACCUSE MATTHEW OF ERROR.

** FOR YOU SEE THIS PROPHECY HAS MORE ROOTS IN ZECHARIAH 13:11&12. SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION HERE OR ANSWER?

*** WELL, IN BELIEVING THAT ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED AND WITHOUT ERROR, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT EXPLAIN THIS QUESTION THAT IS RAISED.

1. NO. 1 SOME POINT OUT THAT THESE QUOTATIONS BY MATTHEW MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM PORTIONS OF JEREMIAH RATHER THAN ONE PARTICULAR TEXT.

* PORTIONS LIKE JEREMIAH 18:1-4, 19:1-13 AND JEREMIAH 32:6-15. AND SOME MAKE AN ARGUMENT FROM THAT POSITION.

** BUT I BELIEVE THE BEST EXPLANATION IS FOUND IN THE JEWISH DIVISION OF THE O.T. INTO 3 SECTIONS – THE LAW, THE WRITINGS (SPEAKING OF THE POETIC WRITINGS) AND THE PROPHETS.

*** AND IN THE RABBINICAL ORDER OF THE PROPHETIC BOOKS, THE MAJOR PROPHET JEREMIAH WAS LISTED FIRST.

**** FOR THAT REASON THE ENTIRE PROPHETIC CATEGORY WAS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS JEREMIAH, JUST AS THE ENTIRE SECTION OF THE POETIC WRITINGS WAS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE PSALMS, IT’S OPENING BOOK.

2. IN FACT, JESUS DID THAT IN TALKING ABOUT THE O.T. THAT WAY IN LUKE 24:44 WHERE HE SAID: “NOW HE SAID TO THEM, “THESE ARE MY WORDS WHICH I SPOKE TO YOU WHILE I WAS STILL WITH YOU, THAT ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN ABOUT ME IN THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE PROPHETS AND THE PSALMS MUST BE FULFILLED.”

* AND THAT WAS THE WAY JESUS SPOKE OF THE POETIC WRITINGS PORTION OF THE O.T., AS THE PSALMS, IN MAKING REFERENCE TO THE ENTIRE O.T.

** NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, AS WE GO BACK TO MATTHEW 27:9&10, V. 9 SPECIFICALLY, THE PHRASE SPOKEN THROUGH JEREMIAH THE PROPHET WAS THEREFORE THE EQUIVALENT OF SAYING, “RECORDED IN THE PROPHETIC BOOKS.”

*** SO THE PROPHETS WERE SOMETIMES COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO BY JEREMIAH’S NAME, AND MAY BE THE EXPLANATION HERE.

**** BUT THE MAIN TRUTH IS, LIKE EVERY OTHER INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF OUR LORD, THE ONE RECORDED HERE IN OUR VERSES TODAY DID NOT TAKE GOD BY SURPRISE, BUT WAS A PRECISE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY IN GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN.

- AND WITH THAT IN MIND, LET’S MOVE ON TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE ACCUSATION BY THE JEWS. LOOK AT V. 11 PLEASE.

II. THE ACCUSATION, (READ V. 11)

A. NOW THE SCENE BEGINNING IN V. 11 SHIFTS BACK TO THE FIRST PHASE OF THE RELIGIOUS TRIAL OF JESUS BEFORE THE ROMAN GOVERNOR PONTIUS PILATE.

* FOR IN MATTHEW 27:2, THE SANHEDRIN HAD PRONOUNCED JESUS GUILTY OF BLASPHEMY AND DELIVERED THE DEATH SENTENCE UPON HIM.

** BUT SINCE THE JEWISH STATE WAS UNDER ROMAN OCCUPATION, THE JEWS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO EXERCISE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

*** SO THEY NEEDED PILATE TO RUBBER STAMP THEIR DECISION TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL WHICH WOULD LEAD TO CRUCIFIXION, THE ROMAN FORM OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, THE PROPHESIED MEANS OF JESUS’ DEATH BY HIMSELF IN MATTHEW 26:2, RATHER THAN THE JEWISH FORM OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WHICH WAS STONING FOR BLASPHEMY.

**** NOW THE JEWS WOULD HAVE TO TRUMP UP DIFFERENT CHARGES FOR PILATE. FOR PILATE, A CIVIL MAGISTRATE, COULDN’T ACCEPT A RELIGIOUS CONVICTION OF BLASPHEMY AS A LEGITIMATE CAUSE FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

1. SO ACCORDING TO THE PARALLEL COMPANION TEXT TO WHAT WE’RE STUDYING IN LUKE 23:1-5, WHICH GIVES US MORE DETAILS OF THIS PHASE OF CHRIST’S TRIALS, THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ACCUSED JESUS OF 3 CRIMES:

(1) ENCOURAGING PEOPLE NOT TO PAY TAXES TO ROME (2) CLAIMING TO BE A KING AND (3) CAUSING RIOTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE.

* IN THEIR LYING, HYPOCRISY AND HARD-HEARTEDNESS THEY ACCUSED JESUS OF 3 T’S, TAX EVASION, TREASON AND TERRORISM.

** AND OF COURSE THESE ACCUSATIONS WERE FALSE, BUT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE DETERMINED TO HAVE JESUS KILLED.

*** SO PILATE’S CONCERN WAS, “IS JESUS AN INSURRECTIONIST AGAINST ROME AND CAESAR?”

**** SO AS JESUS IS BEFORE PILATE, PILATE ASKS HIM, “ARE YOU THE KING OF THE JEWS?”

2. AND JESUS FLAT OUT SAYS, “IT IS AS YOU SAY, YES, I’M THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

* JESUS COULDN’T LIE. THAT WAS THE TRUTH.

** AND ACCORDING TO JOHN 18:34-38, JOHN’S COMPANION PARALLEL TEXT TO CHRIST BEFORE PILATE, JESUS WILL EXPLAIN THAT HIS KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. FOR IF IT WERE, HIS SERVANTS WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR HIM.

*** AND AS PILATE HEARS THAT, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT JESUS IS NOT A PHYSICAL THREAT TO ROME OR HIMSELF.

**** FOR AT THE END OF JOHN 18:38, PILATE SAYS, “I FIND NO GUILT IN HIM”, SPEAKING OF JESUS.

3. AND IN THIS CONTEXT, THE WORD “FIND” REPRESENTED A JUDICIAL VERDICT. PILATE ACQUITTED JESUS OF ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINAL WRONGDOING.

* HE BASICALLY IN OUR TERMINOLOGY TODAY, “THREW THE CASE OUT OF COURT FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE.”

** BUT THE SANHEDRIN WON’T STAND FOR THAT, LOOK AT V. 12 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 12. NOW AT THIS POINT, JESUS AND PILATE WERE PROBABLY ON THE PORCH OR BALCONY OF PILATE’S RESIDENCE IN JERUSALEM CALLED THE PRAETORIUM.

* AND I MENTION THAT BECAUSE ACCORDING TO JOHN 18:28 IT SAYS ABOUT THESE RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES: “THEY LED JESUS THEREFORE FROM CAIAPHAS INTO THE PRAETORIUM; AND IT WAS EARLY; AND THEY THEMSELVES DID NOT ENTER INTO THE PRAETORIUM IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE DEFILED, BUT MIGHT EAT THE PASSOVER.”

** NOW GET THIS, THESE JEWS WON’T GO INTO PILATE’S HOUSE BECAUSE IT’S THE PASSOVER AND THEY DON’T WANT TO BE DEFILED BY GOING INTO THIS GENTILE’S HOUSE.

*** BUT IT IS O.K. TO LIE AND CONDEMN AN INNOCENT MAN TO DEATH BECAUSE THEY HATED HIM. YOU TALK ABOUT HYPOCRISY, A DOUBLE STANDARD AND A DISCONNECT. WOW!

**** SO THESE RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES ARE ACCUSING JESUS BY LYING AND CHRIST WON’T EVEN ANSWER THEM.

1. OUR LORD MAKES NO ATTEMPT TO DEFEND HIMSELF AGAINST THESE FALSE ACCUSATIONS. AND OUR LORD’S ATTITUDE AND RESPONSE AT THIS TIME WILL BRING AMAZEMENT TO PILATE.

* LOOK AT V. 13 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE ATTITUDE OF JESUS.

III. THE ATTITUDE, (READ V. 13)

A. NOW PILATE KNEW THAT THE CHARGES WERE PREPOSTEROUS. FOR WE WILL SEE LORD WILLING NEXT WEEK IN V. 18 THAT PILATE KNEW THAT THESE RELIGIONISTS ENVIED JESUS.

* JESUS WAS TAKING THE SPOTLIGHT OFF OF THEM AND EXPOSING THEIR HYPOCRISY.

** AND PILATE KNEW THAT. SO HE EXPECTED JESUS TO DEFEND HIMSELF AGAINST THEIR FALSE ACCUSATIONS.

*** BUT JESUS WOULD NOT FOR HE WAS FULFILLING THE PLAN OF HIS FATHER, WHICH REMINDS US OF ISAIAH 53:7 AND I PETER 2:22&23 (READ THEM).

**** BELOVED, JESUS KNEW THE TRUTH AND WAS THE EMBODIMENT OF TRUTH, SO HE DIDN’T NEED TO ARGUE WITH THESE HYPOCRITICAL LIARS, EVEN THOUGH HIS LIFE IS IN THE BALANCES.

1. AND THIS IS AMAZING TO PILATE, FOR LOOK AT V. 14 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 14. NOW OVER THE YEARS PILATE HAD CONFRONTED HUNDREDS OF ACCUSED MEN, MOST OF WHOM LOUDLY PROTESTED THEIR INNOCENCE AND WERE WILLING TO SAY OR DO ANYTHING TO SAVE THEMSELVES.

* AND NO DOUBT MANY OF THEM MADE COUNTERCHARGES AGAINST THEIR ACCUSERS OR ELSE PASSIONATELY PLED FOR MERCY – PILATE WAS A POWERFUL MAN.

** SO A PERSON WHO SAID NOTHING IN HIS OWN DEFENSE WAS UNHEARD OF AND ASTOUNDING.

*** BUT CHRIST’S INNOCENCE WAS SO OBVIOUS THAT IT DEMANDED NO DEFENSE ON HIS PART.

**** SO PILATE WAS QUITE AMAZED AS THE MAN WHO STOOD BEFORE HIM WAS CALM, SERENE, UNDEFENSIVE AND COMPLETELY AT PEACE.

AND AS I WRAP UP OUR STUDY TODAY (1) LET ME SAY HOW MUCH CONFINDENCE IN THE WILL OF GOD THAT WOULD TAKE.

* FOR MOST OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN SCREAMING AT THIS POINT – RIGHT? ESPECIALLY WHEN RELIGIOUS PHONIES ARE MAKING THE ACCUSATIONS.

** BUT NOT JESUS. THERE IS CONFIDENCE IN HIS FATHER’S WILL. AND WE NEED THAT KIND OF CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN WE KNOW WE ARE DOING WHAT’S RIGHT AND THE WILL OF THE FATHER, AND WE SUFFER FOR IT BY CHRIST’S ENEMIES WE MUST APPLY

I PETER 2:23, WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES TO OUR FATHER AND TRUST IN HIS HIGHER WAYS AND WILL AND PURPOSES.

*** PROVERBS 3:26 SAYS: (READ IT AND EXODUS 14:14).

**** AND MY POINT IS A RIGHTEOUS LIFE IS OUR DEFENSE, AND THE LORD HAS A WAY OF BRINGING THE TRUTH OUT, FOR EVEN IN CHRIST’S SITUATION, WEAK SPINELESS PILATE KNEW THAT JESUS WAS NOT AN INSURRECTIONIST.

(2) AND BELOVED OUR CONCERN SHOULD BE FOR THE TRUTH AND THE DEFENSE OF GOD’S NAME AND HIS REPUTATION.

* AND IF WE ARE LIVING IN HYPOCRISY, OUR MESSAGE BY OUR LIVES WON’T BE CLEAR AND YES THERE IS SOME HYPOCRISY IN MOST OF OUR LIVES.

** BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE IT RIGHT. FOR IN THE SANCTIFYING PROCESS OF GOD IN OUR LIVES, MORE AND MORE OF THAT SHOULD BE PURGED.

*** SO BE TRANSPARENT TODAY AND ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL HYPOCRISY IN YOUR LIFE, INCONSISTENCIES, BLIND SPOTS THAT OTHERS SEE CLEARLY, BUT YOU DON’T SEE.

**** ARE THERE CONTRADICTIONS IN YOUR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS OF THE FAITH?

(3) ARE YOU LIVING A LIE? ARE THERE INCONSISTENCIES OF WHAT YOU PROFESS AND HOW YOU LIVE? IS THERE A HUGE DISCONNECT IN YOUR LIFE?

* DO YOU PLAY THE GAME OF HYPOCRISY?

** BELOVED, LET’S BE HONEST TODAY. LET’S PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD REVEAL OUR BLIND SPOTS, WHICH WILL BE PAINFUL BUT GOOD IN THE LONG RUN.

*** AND LET US ASK THE LORD TO KEEP US FROM BEING HARD-HEARTED AND LIVING WITH HYPOCRISY, AND BE ACCOUNTABLE TO SOMEONE TO HELP YOU WORK THROUGH PRESUMPTUOUS SINS.

(4) I CLOSE WITH PSALM 19:12-14 AND PSALM 139:23&24.

* PSALM 19:12&13 – “WHO CAN DISCERN HIS ERRORS? ACQUIT ME OF HIDDEN FAULTS.”

V. 13 – “ALSO KEEP BACK THY SERVANT FROM PRESUMPTUOUS SINS; LET THEM NOT RULE OVER ME; THEN I SHALL BE BLAMELESS, AND I SHALL BE ACQUITTED OF GREAT TRANSGRESSION.”

(AND THEN READ V. 14 AND PSALM 139:23&24).

** BELOVED, LET THESE TEXTS BE OUR PRAYER TODAY.