Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, so that they stepped one on another… words naturally yield you this doctrine: Hypocrisy is a dangerous leaven, which ministers and people are chiefly and especially to beware of, and acquit themselves from. Hence you have a chapter of woes against it (Matthew 23.). And it is represented as that which renders odious to the Lord, and defiles, His choicest ordinances, and our best duties, if it cleave to them (Isaiah 1:11, 12; Isaiah 66:3); and puts God to sad complaints and exprobations of such a people (Hosea 6:4). I. WHAT HYPOCRISY IS. Much of the nature of a thing is many times discovered in its name; the name is a brief description. The word " hypocrite" properly signifies an actor or stage-player, a personator of other men in their speech, habit, and action. The Hebrew word signifieth both "a wicked man" and a "deceiver." And it is observed that those whom David, the devoutest man, called "wicked," Solomon, the wisest man, calls "fools," and Job, the most upright man, calls "hypocrites": all is but one and the same thing under divers names. Hypocrisy, then, is but a feigning of virtue and piety, which it seems to put on, and vice and impiety, which it conceals and would seem to put off. It is indeed vice in a vizor; the face is vice, but virtue is the vizor. The form and nature of it is imitation: the ends are vainglory, to be seen of men, or some gain or carnal respects. II. How IS HYPOCRIST RESEMBLED BY LEAVEN? Briefly thus: 1. Leaven is hardly discerned from good dough by the sight. And as hardly is hypocrisy distinguished from piety. 2. Leaven is very spreading. And so hypocrisy does a great deal of mischief; it spreads over all the man, and all his duties, parts, performances: and leavens all. 3. Leaven is of a sour taste and ungrateful smell. So is hypocrisy to God's man. 4. Leaven is of a swelling nature: it extends and puffs up the dough. So hypocrisy is all for the praise of men. III. WHY IS IT CALLED "THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES"? Because they were leavened with it to purpose; they were exact and super-eminent in this devilish art of personating and counterfeiting to the life. IV. WHEREIN IS THIS LEAVEN OF HYPOCRISY SO DANGEROUS THAT MINISTERS AND PEOPLE OUGHT FIRSTLY, CHIEFLY, TO BEWARE OF IT? There is great danger of it, and great danger by it. 1. There is great danger of it. (1) For we have the ground of the matter in ourselves. "Hearts deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know thy wickedness? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins," &c. (Jeremiah 17:9, 10). As if none beside the Lord knew the bottomless depths and deceits of the heart! (2) The devil watcheth night and day to set fire to this tow. (3) And that we may not be secure, there are before our eyes and in our view dreadful examples. Balaam, a great prophet; Judas, an apostle familiar with Christ; Saul, Jehu, Herod, and Agrippa, famous kings. 2. And there is great danger by it."(1) The loss of all. that,, is done. Christ will say, as to that young man, "Yet lackest thou one thing (Luke 18:22), sincerity: wouldest thou have heaven too? Why then didst thou all things for the "praise of men? Thou hast thy reward," and art overpaid. "Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23). (2) Frustrating of hopes, great hopes, hopes of glory and heaven, and escaping eternal misery. All these hopes must "perish " to the "hypocrite" (Job 8:13); perish like a ship at the very mouth of the haven; perish while they are crying, "Lord, Lord"; perish into everlasting horror and eternal despair. (3) Full detection and manifesting of them in the sight and face of all the world. (4) And in hell the hypocrite shall be beaten with many stripes. For he knew his Master's will, and pretended he was doing it, and yet did it not. (A. Bromhall.) Parallel Verses KJV: In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. |
    |