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“Hypocrite” comes from the Greek word Hupokrites and refers to someone who is acting, pretending. It was the custom of Greek and Roman stage actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice. These actors, concealing their real faces and changing their real voices, were called Hupokrites, or hypocrites.
A FORM OF LEAVEN
In Matthew 16, Scripture shows that the leaven (leaven) of the Pharisees goes beyond hypocrisy. Following the miracle of the fishes and loaves, the Pharisees confronted Jesus as they sought a sign. He called them hypocrites to their faces and offered no sign but the sign of Jonah. Later He warned His disciples, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6), CLICK it. The disciples did not at first understand what He meant. Christ called the Pharisees hypocrites (in verse 3), but the disciples didn’t automatically assume a connection.
It is quite likely the disciples were initially blinded by a guilty conscience. They thought they had received a subtle scolding because no one had remembered to purchase food for the group (Matthew 16:7). Christ explained that He wasn’t dependent upon whether they remembered to buy groceries. After all, hadn’t He just fed a huge multitude with seven loaves and a few fish? With their guilty conscience relieved, they hit upon His true intent, which He described (in verse 12), “Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
The leaven of the Pharisees is more than hypocrisy; it is also their doctrine. But how or why is their doctrine equated to leaven? We will find as we go along that there is an inextricable link between the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the doctrines of the Pharisees.
DOCTRINE AND HYPOCRISY
The clearest connection between the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and their doctrine is seen (in Mark 7:1-9), where the Pharisees complained about the disciples eating with unwashed hands. It should be understood that the traditions, or rulings, passed down generation to generation by the wise men of the Pharisaical persuasion took on the power of law. To the mind of a Pharisee, the sayings of their elders were as binding as the Scriptures. In fact, Christ implies they were even seen as more binding than the law of God if the two came into conflict. To Christ this was hypocritical. How can a body of men who claim to be the most righteous observers of the law of God create traditions that nullify the law of God and still claim righteousness? This didn’t make sense. Christ saw their doctrines, in this case, as hypocritical.
As we continue in Mark 7, we can see the conflict. The Pharisees came to Christ and challenged, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” (Mark 7:5). Christ responded, “Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This person honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:6-7).
Christ continued His rebuke (in Mark 7:8-13), giving examples of traditions passed down by the elders that directly contravened the law of God. His final summation was that in many areas of advice, ruling and even law they had put aside the law of God preferring their traditions instead. To Christ, this was hypocritical of a body that claimed superior righteousness since the laws of God are righteousness (Psalms 119:172).
MODERN ILLUSTRATION (simile)
The conflict between the traditions of the elders and the law was not just a circumstance of Christ’s day. The Pharisees of Christ’s day were in effect the predecessors of the rabbinical system that came to power after the destruction of the temple. Following the banning of Jews from the Jerusalem area, the rabbinical schools moved north to the shores of the Sea of Galilee and there created the basis for modern Judaism. The system of teaching based upon tradition has continued since that time.
A few years back before the Passover, Jeffrey Weiss wrote an interesting article in the Oregonian detailing the effect of the traditions of the elders upon the standards for determining what is leavened. Mr. Weiss shared an interview with the rabbi-in-residence at Manischewitz, the world’s largest manufacturer of matzo. Before getting into specifics, Mr. Weiss wrote, “Thousands of years of rabbis have come up with long explanations for how to observe that seemingly simple commandment” (referring to the command in Exodus about leavening).
Mr. Weiss described how the Manischewitz plant is closed for a month before Passover for a complete cleaning where cooking equipment is literally taken apart and scoured and reassembled before the production of Passover matzo begins. He also described the meticulous way the matzo is made, making sure no leavening intentionally or unintentionally contaminates the matzo.
At the end of his article, the reporter then described the many ways in which people observing the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread try to get around the strict obedience to the no-leavening law. Herein we find a most interesting “law.” Mr. Weiss asked Manischevitz’s rabbi-in-residence about what appeared to be a contradiction to the biblical law regarding no leavening during this season. “‘And how about many of Manischevitz’s kosher-for-Passover processed mixes for cakes, cookies, and other goodies? One of the ingredients is sodium carbonate—baking soda. Isn’t that a leavening?’
“‘It may look that way,’ Rabbi Horowitz said. ‘But appearances can deceive.’“
The rabbis decided that matzo once certified as kosher for Passover can never be de-Passoverized. Not even by later contact with leavening. All of the Manischewitz mixes start with Passover matzo meal that—by definition—can’t be ritually contaminated by baking soda.
“‘Most people don’t understand that,’ Rabbi Horowitz said.
It’s not a question of what it looks like,’ he said. ‘It is a question of what the rabbis call it.’”
That article echoes the words in the book of Mark (Mark 7:8): “For laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men…"
”As we move toward the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, may we learn from the cautionary words of Christ—beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. During our days of self-examination and introspection, may we determine all the more to worship God with a sincere and honest heart, coupled with a respect for both the letter and the spirit of His Word." UN
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For further reading, choose The Case of the Two Gospels among the posts on display below. (Tap... "See All")
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