The objective of this lesson: to focus us on Jesus' concept of hypocrisy
Give the typical definition of a hypocrite. [Please be prepared to share that definition/concept with the class.]
Allow your students to share their definition or concept of hypocrisy. Approach it as a revealing/sharing moment, not as a time for evaluation. The more an individual thinks about his/her concept, the more likely he/she is to see a contrast between his/her concept and Jesus' concept.
Today, typically, a hypocrite is a person who indulges in or practices hypocrisy. To engage in hypocrisy is to engage in pretense. It is a pretending designed to deceive. The person gives the appearance of being something he/she is not. The 21st century concept and definition of hypocrisy is illustrated by the capable con man or con woman. He/she so convincingly presents himself/herself as something he/she is not that he/she convincingly deceives the victim. Without guilty conscience or misgiving, he/she sincerely convinces others that he/she is something he/she is not. The objective of this deceitfulness is to exploit the trusting or the gullible.
The concept to stress: today's concept typically focuses on a pretense that is dedicated to the deception of others. Make certain your students understand there is a distinct difference between a pretense that is calculated to deceive and a mistake made because a person yielded to temptation.
For exploitation to occur, the con must deceive. First and foremost, the con must convince his/her victim, "I am genuine, and I am truly concerned about you and your good." By the commonly accepted definition, a good con must be the ideal hypocrite if he/she is to successfully deceive.
The illustration of a con person who intentionally, deliberately deceives is commonly a good illustration of today's concept of hypocrisy.
The ancient word for hypocrisy came from a Greek word in the stage vocabulary. It was a word that referred to one who acted, who through acting played a role in a stage presentation. It is not difficult to understand how the word came to be associated with people who pretended. Such people were merely playing a role. Such people were not revealing who they were as persons. They merely wanted others to see them as they presented themselves. It is one thing to act on a stage to entertain people. It is quite another to deceive people by pretending.
The concept of hypocrisy had its origin in acting. The word was expanded to include those who were not actors on a stage, but who used a pretense to convince others to accept a deceptive view of the pretender.
However, Jesus' use of the word hypocrisy, while including pretense, went beyond pretense. It included misrepresenting God, His purposes, or His values. In today's typical usage of the concept of hypocrite, we would not associate the concept of hypocrisy with the Pharisees as Jesus often did. In today's common concept of hypocrisy, it is associated with conscious pretense. The person knowingly is pretending. He/she knows, "I am misleading or deceiving others." He/she deliberately [often with calculation!] misleads someone. The conscious objective is to deceive. With all their faults and shortcomings, the Pharisees were not consciously, knowingly, deliberately trying to deceive or misguide others. They were certain they did not misrepresent God--Jesus did that!
The difference in the typical concept of hypocrisy and Jesus' concept of hypocrisy is the difference between deliberate deception through pretense and misrepresenting God's priorities and concerns.
The Pharisees were deeply disturbed by social trends among Israelites. In their understanding the people were drifting from their roots and their history. A complex combination of factors in their society and world worked together for generations to produce Israel's migration from their roots. As a group, before Jesus' birth, they committed themselves to urge [perhaps challenging demand] that Israel return to the "old paths" [their words] and restore Israel's ancient emphases.
It is important and significant to note that the Pharisee's concerns were genuine, sincere, and legitimate. They should have expressed concern for a truly real problem. However, their "solutions" did not address the heart of the problem. In fact, their "solutions" contributed to the problem. God was still ignored through misrepresentation!
To encourage Israel in this restoration of the "old paths," the Pharisees particularly stressed two things: (1) cleanliness [or purity] rituals and (2) restricting Israel to kosher diets (Leviticus 11). A cleanliness [or purification] ritual is seen in the "washing of hands" (Matthew 15:1, 2). Please remember that neither of these had to do with 20th or 21st century hygiene practices, but with religious convictions.
The basic point of the hand washing ritual [see the Mishnah, 2:5; Yadaim 2:3,4] was to distance the person from any impurity [uncleanness]. It was concerned with purity before God, not hygiene. That was the same concern in diet.
Jesus associated these acts with Pharisaic hypocrisy: the religious role they served, the phylacteries [small boxes containing some scriptures] they wore on religious occasions, the clothing with its religious symbols they wore, their love of seats of honor at banquets and in synagogues, and their love of respectful greetings (see Matthew 23:1-12). Today it is unlikely we would consider such matters as acts of hypocrisy.
Matthew 23:1-12 states the basic concerns Jesus had in his concept of pharisaic hypocrisy.
A relevant question: to Jesus, how were these things expressions of hypocrisy? The answer is frightening! Jesus said their motives and emphasis misrepresented God's priorities and concerns, and that was the core of their hypocrisy. They were supposed to be God's spokesmen. They were supposed to call attention to God's concerns. They were supposed to highlight matters that acknowledged God's righteousness and God's holiness. Jesus said when Jews observed their motives and things that were important to them, their emphasis caused other Jews totally to misunderstand God's concerns and priorities. God's concerns were not [are not] captured in the performance of rituals, but in the priorities of the human heart. When a religious ritual becomes a matter of performance rather than the surrender of the human heart, God's priorities are misrepresented (1 Samuel 15:22,23; Acts 4:19-22).
Jesus' primary problem with pharisaic conduct was this: their emphasis and lifestyle misrepresented God's priorities and concerns.
Thought Questions
Today the focus is typically placed on a pretense that is intended to deceive.
The con artist is a modern example.
The source was a Greek word used much before Jesus' birth to refer to actors.
Jesus included misrepresenting God.
The direction of Israel's society concerned the Pharisees. Explanations of mutual concern will reflect the concerns of the individuals who share.
The Pharisees thought the key to restoring "the old paths" in Israel was a restoration of the religious rituals in Israel.
Jesus cited matters of religious role assumed by them, broad phylacteries, attention getting tassels [see Numbers 15:37-41}, places of honor at banquets and in synagogues, and special titles of respect.
They enjoyed exalting themselves rather than exalting God. Serving God was centered in rituals, not in humble hearts of submission.
They were supposed to be God's spokesmen who revealed God's values.
They caused people to conclude that God values religious rituals over heart responses. Their concerns and behavior suggested external rituals and practices must be correct, but God is unconcerned with the motivations and attitudes found in a person's heart. Purity is primarily an external consideration.
Interaction question:
At the core of the discussion should be this understanding: when the effect of our words and behavior is more concerned with "hows" rather than "hearts," we misrepresent God. We must seek God's balance, not our desires.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 1