journey into holiness – p.10 “the problem of hypocrisy” matthew 21:28-32

Journey Into Holiness – p.10Journey Into Holiness – p.10

““The Problem of Hypocrisy”The Problem of Hypocrisy”

Matthew 21:28-32Matthew 21:28-32

John 13:35 (NIV)John 13:35 (NIV)

By this all men will know that you are my By this all men will know that you are my

disciples, if you love one another."disciples, if you love one another."

John 14:15, 21, 23-24 (NIV)John 14:15, 21, 23-24 (NIV)

"If you love me, you will obey what I "If you love me, you will obey what I

command.command.

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, Whoever has my commands and obeys them,

he is the one who loves me. He who loves me he is the one who loves me. He who loves me

will be loved by my Father, and I too will love will be loved by my Father, and I too will love

him and show myself to him."him and show myself to him."

John 14:15, 21, 23-24 (NIV)John 14:15, 21, 23-24 (NIV)

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will

obey my teaching. My Father will love him, obey my teaching. My Father will love him,

and we will come to him and make our home and we will come to him and make our home

with him. He who does not love me will not with him. He who does not love me will not

obey my teaching. obey my teaching.

John 14:15, 21, 23-24 (NIV)John 14:15, 21, 23-24 (NIV)

These words you hear are not my own; they These words you hear are not my own; they

belong to the Father who sent me. belong to the Father who sent me.

• In all these scriptures: Jesus links “In all these scriptures: Jesus links “believingbelieving” ”

to “to “behaviorbehavior.” The two are inseparable. .” The two are inseparable.

The story:The story:

• The story begins with a The story begins with a questionquestion

• "What do you think? - Matthew 21:28"What do you think? - Matthew 21:28

• ““Which of the two did what his father Which of the two did what his father

wanted?”wanted?” - Matthew 21:31 - Matthew 21:31


• The master figure (father) The master figure (father) asksasks for for helphelp

• There was a man who had two sons. He went There was a man who had two sons. He went

to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today

in the vineyard.' - Matthew 21:28bin the vineyard.' - Matthew 21:28b


• The contrasting subordinates (sons) have The contrasting subordinates (sons) have

contrasting contrasting responsesresponses (vv.29-30) (vv.29-30)

• " 'I will not,' he answered, but later he " 'I will not,' he answered, but later he

changed his mind and went. - Matthew changed his mind and went. - Matthew

21:2921:29




• "Then the father went to the other son and "Then the father went to the other son and

said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,'

but he did not go. – Matthew 21:30but he did not go. – Matthew 21:30




• The first son said The first son said nono but lived but lived yesyes

• ““metamelomaimetamelomai” which could be translated ” which could be translated

“repent”. “repent”.

• The second son said The second son said yesyes but lived but lived nono


• The story ends with a The story ends with a questionquestion (v.31a) (v.31a)

• "Which of the two did what his father "Which of the two did what his father

wanted?" - Matthew 21:31wanted?" - Matthew 21:31

• "The first," they answered."The first," they answered.

Jesus explains the storyJesus explains the story

For John came to you to show you the way of For John came to you to show you the way of

righteousness, and you did not believe him, righteousness, and you did not believe him,

but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.

And even after you saw this, you did not And even after you saw this, you did not

repent and believe himrepent and believe him. – Matthew 21:32. – Matthew 21:32


• Statement #1: The religious group is indicted Statement #1: The religious group is indicted

for their for their disbeliefdisbelief in God’s prophet John in God’s prophet John

For John came to you to show you the way of For John came to you to show you the way of

righteousness, and you did not believe him,righteousness, and you did not believe him,


• Statement #2: The tax collectors and Statement #2: The tax collectors and

prostitutes are vindicated by their prostitutes are vindicated by their beliefbelief

but the tax collectors and the prostitutes didbut the tax collectors and the prostitutes did


• Statement #3: The religious group is indicted Statement #3: The religious group is indicted

for rejecting their second chance to for rejecting their second chance to repentrepent

And even after you saw this, you did not And even after you saw this, you did not

repent and believe himrepent and believe him..


Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the

tax collectors and the prostitutes are tax collectors and the prostitutes are

entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

– – Matthew 21:31bMatthew 21:31b


"the tax collectors and the prostitutes enter "the tax collectors and the prostitutes enter

the kingdom of God—and you do not"the kingdom of God—and you do not"


The Contemporary English VersionThe Contemporary English Version

You can be sure that tax collectors and You can be sure that tax collectors and

prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God

before you ever will!before you ever will!

Bottom Line:Bottom Line:

• People who really make a difference in the People who really make a difference in the

world are committed to round the clock world are committed to round the clock

radicalradical holinessholiness!!

Just starting or starting over…Just starting or starting over…

• We are all working to become holy like Jesus We are all working to become holy like Jesus

is holy – please give us is holy – please give us gracegrace..

• God invites you, no matter what your past God invites you, no matter what your past

looks like, to looks like, to receivereceive His message of His message of hopehope

and and transformationtransformation..

Just starting or starting over…Just starting or starting over…

• You will be judged by what you do with You will be judged by what you do with

God’s truth delivered to you – regardless of God’s truth delivered to you – regardless of

the the presencepresence of of hypocriteshypocrites. .

For those following hard…For those following hard…

• God evaluates us based on our God evaluates us based on our actionsactions not not

our our intentionsintentions..

• Authentic Christ followers are genuine Authentic Christ followers are genuine

worshippersworshippers. .

For those following hard…For those following hard…

• Living in repentance Living in repentance impactsimpacts othersothers..

journey into holiness – p.10 “the problem of hypocrisy” matthew 21:28-32

Documents

contrasting subordinates

b slide

athe story

questionthe story

problem of hypocrisy

niv jesus

helpthe master figure

jesus links