“How to be a Hypocrite”
Luke 11:37-54
November 1, 2026
As Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem, there is increasing resistance to Him. The crowds continue to gather, but not everyone who gathers is enamored with Christ. Some are skeptical. And increasingly, some are hostile. And that hostility will culminate when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem with a speedy trial and crucifixion (and resurrection, which was God’s eternal plan, but wholly unanticipated by the crucifiers).
The tragic irony is that those who were most opposed to Christ should have been the ones that were most delighted in Him. They were the ones who studied, knew, and taught the Scriptures. They were committed to the Old Testament and they were rigorous in attempting to figure out appropriate application of biblical principles. These religious leaders were Pharisees — and their failure to maintain the standard to which they called others led to their name becoming synonymous with hypocrisy. To be a hypocrite is to be a Pharisee. The terms are used synonymously — even by unbelievers today. Talk about a failure.
And as their opposition to Christ increased, Jesus also increasingly and clearly confronted and exposed them. So after “piously” asking Jesus for more signs (after He cast a demon out of a demon-possessed man), and after asserting that Jesus’ work and power was satanic, Jesus was invited to lunch by a Pharisee. That Pharisee continued the attack on Jesus’ understanding and use of Scripture and Jesus confronted His hypocritical unbelief. But Jesus is not only confronting the Pharisees; He is warning the Twelve (12:1). And He is warning us what hypocrisy might look like in our own lives. From this extended confrontation (Lk. 11:37-54) we are warned —
As you pursue godliness, beware of becoming hypocritical.
Beware of becoming a hypocrite. What does hypocrisy look like? It is not much different today than it was in Jesus’ day. His confrontation reveals at least nine characteristics of pharisaism — nine ways to be a hypocrite; if you want to be a hypocrite, cultivate these nine characteristics:
- Pursue Ritualism at the Expense of Transformation (vv. 38-41)
- Forget the Purposes of God’s Word (v. 42)
- Seek Personal Praise over Personal Piety (v. 43)
- Disregard Your Heart (v. 44)
- Don’t Help Others with Their Spiritual Needs (v. 46)
- Dishonor Those Who Honor God (vv. 47-48)
- Claim Immunity from judgment (vv. 49-51)
- Keep People from Knowing the Truth of God (v. 52) (inhibit and be a roadblock)
- Be Defensive and Angry when Your Heart is Exposed (vv. 45, 53-54)
Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 11:37-54.
Tombs of Benei Hezir and Zechariah in Jerusalem.
The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.
