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Have You Been Blinded?

Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God, and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law— you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God. ROMANS 2:17-29 CSB

Hypocrisy keeps us from truly seeing ourselves

Having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law— you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? ROMANS 2:20b-21 CSB

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples:  “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. MATTHEW 23:1-4 CSB

Hypocrisy keeps us from truly seeing others

For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. ROMANS 2:24 CSB

Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” LUKE 7:44-48 CSB

We need the God who sees us and gives us a new heart

On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. ROMANS 2:29a CSB

We are who we are in secret.

You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. COLOSSIANS 2:11-12 CSB

Practice repentance over rage

Practice listening over legalism

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place where you can be still and just listen to God speak to your heart. Ask him to give you a humble, receptive spirit. Begin your time with him by thinking about a situation where you were hurt by someone’s hypocrisy. How did it make you feel? Ask God, “Reveal a time when someone was hurt by my hypocrisy.” Is your first temptation to excuse your behavior, or to confess your sin before God? After the prophet Nathan confronts him with his hypocrisy, King David writes Psalm 51 NLT. In it he says, “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God. Renew a loyal spirit within me… make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.” Turning from hypocrisy is turning toward purity of heart. Spend some time thinking about where your heart needs cleansing, and how you can be the same on the inside as you are on the outside. Ask God to show you an action you can take this week to become more authentic in this area.

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you been learning about yourself, God or others in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
  2. What types of hypocrites get on your nerves the most? Why do you think this is true?
  3. Read Romans 2:17-20. When have you had an encounter with an arrogant Christian, and what did you learn from the experience? If you have ever been a “know-it-all” Christian, how have you changed?
  4. Continue reading Romans 2:21-24. In what practical ways have you seen people reject God because of the hypocrisy of those who say they’re Christians? What did you do about it?
  5. Continue reading Romans 2:25-27. As you look at your obedience to God, where are you currently practicing what you preach? Where are you being a hypocrite?
  6. Continue reading Romans 2:28-29. Jesus died to change our hearts, not just our behaviors. As you look at your life, where would you say your heart still needs some work? What can we do to help?