Day 7: The whole batch
Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy" (Luke 12:1).
Heavenly Father, You are the righteous God who probes minds and hearts (Psalm 7:9). You see our deepest thoughts, our reasonings, our justifications and our motives—A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart (Proverbs 21:2).
Lord, Your word teaches us how to navigate the difficult times in which we live. Hypocrisy, deceit, corruption, and insincerity, pervade the very fabric and foundation of our religious and secular structures.
All through His earthly ministry, our Lord constantly emphasized that true worship is not about outward religious traditions or observances. He taught that God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). He constantly pointed out the evils, the dangers, and the bondage of legalism and religious hypocrisy—yeast working itself into the whole batch of dough.
Father, no wonder the Lord Jesus spoke out so strongly against hypocrisy! The yeast of the Pharisees is deadly in its treachery, its odiousness and its betrayal of a sacred trust. We recognize the glaring incongruity between devouring widows’ houses, and...making long prayers (Mark 12:40 ESV).
But hypocrisy is not limited to religion—we recognize other hypocrisy—just as pervasive—working its way through every sector of society, institutions and systems. And just as religious hypocrisy is not new, neither is insincerity, pretense, corruption, perverted justice, and other evils that have plagued humanity for millennia. Centuries ago, David describes those who take delight in lies—With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse (Psalm 62:4).
Lord, give us wisdom and discernment. Help us to guard our hearts against religious hypocrisy—against bondage and legalism. Help us not to be like the ones the apostle Paul describes: having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:5). Draw our hearts into the genuine and sincere worship the Lord Jesus taught.
Guard us against hypocrisy in other areas of life. Defend us against human intrigues (Psalm 31:20). Help us not to share in the world's leaven of superficiality and insincerity.
In our workplaces, our gatherings, our associations, and our transactions, help us to interact, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8).
Help us to hold on to the more excellent way taught by the Lord Jesus. He constantly emphasized truth, authenticity, and a sincere, unwavering love for God and for others (Matthew 22:36-39). The apostle Paul also teaches about genuine love—writing to the Roman church, Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (Romans 12:9).
Father, help us to live in such a way that when You "search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve” (Jeremiah 17:10), You will find the purity and sincerity of the Son who loved us even unto death.
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