Beware the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy.

Luke 12:1-3, In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

The warning is in part because the religious leaders were feigning interest while plotting to kill Jesus, no doubt the height of hypocrisy. We shouldn’t be surprised either by it, hypocrisy is a part of our fallen world. But Jesus wants us to beware the pitfalls, for there is a day coming when everything done in private will be revealed. Only by his amazing grace can we be forgiven and strengthened to walk with integrity!

Check us when we are tempted to hypocrisy!

ESV Lectionary