3 “Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.” Luke 12:1-3. (Emphasis added.)
“Hypocrisy” is defined as “a feigning (pretending) to be what one is not or to believe what one does not” to give “an appearance of virtue or religion”. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. (Parenthetical synonym is Bill’s).
“Leaven” is defined by Scripture. “Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:12
Thus, putting it together, the lesson for us today is to beware of teachings which the teacher really does not believe but which that teacher teaches to give an appearance of virtue or religion.
When we think about it, all or most of us have heard someone say something that we perceive that they really don’t believe but that they feel they have to say it in order to give an appearance of virtue or religion.
When we compare the conclusion, climax, or summary of a sermon with minor points made through the sermon, we may be able to detect an inconsistency. It seems as if the preacher or teacher is teaching that minor point to defend himself “as orthodox” in case he is later challenged.
The comfort of this Scripture is that they are not going to get away with the deception. “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Luke 12:2.
These teachers think that they are more clever and more deceptive than they really are. “But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.” 2 Timothy 3:9.
The whole Chapter of 2 Timothy 3 provides a fitting summary and conclusion to warn us and to protect us and to equip us and to comfort us. We are reminded of the importance of Scripture to help us detect such hypocrites and to give us “the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” and to equip us “for every good work”.
“1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:1-17 (the whole chapter).
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 