1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Those who persecute Jesus will also persecute His disciples. In verses 1-12, Jesus issued a warning about apostate religion becoming both His and their primary opponent. However, their main fear was not the religionists but God Himself. He would decide their eternal status.
12:1
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven [yeast] of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
An innumerable crowd so gathered before Jesus that they almost trampled each other. Jesus warned them about the spiritual disease of hypocrisy. He described this problem as leaven. Leaven was fermented dough mixed with new dough, which caused the batch to rise. Leaven was the false teaching of the Pharisees. The leaven of their false teaching grew and developed against Jesus and His disciples.
Hypocrisy is to pretend to be something that one is not. Their value lay in how they appeared to others rather than in their personal integrity. A double life does not mesh with Jesus’ ministry. Spiritual leaven of apostasy is slow and constant.
12:2
For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
People try to conceal their sin by their hypocrisy, but it will be revealed to the public. God will eventually expose what is in one’s life. Hypocrites will be seen for what they are.
12:3
Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
The Pharisees thought they could hide their secret plans for self-aggrandizement, but God would expose them for what they were. They thought no one would find the corruption that was in their hearts. God would evaluate their very speech.
PRINCIPLE:
A disciple is to minister with integrity.
APPLICATION:
Christians should be prepared to deal with hypocrisy. There should be no difference between the inner and outer person. A hypocrite is someone who operates behind a mask. Pretending to be something we are not is inconsistent with the integrity of the Christian life. It is to hide who we are by focusing on our outer appearance to others. Presenting ourselves as spiritually superior to others covers up our faults and areas where we need to grow. Mature believers do not hide who they truly are; they do not need to pretend to be something they are not.
Religious hypocrites portray themselves as something they are not. They pretend to be something that does not match who they are (Mark 7:6; Mt 23:5-7). They present themself as spiritually superior to others (Isa 65:5). God will expose their phoniness in the eternal state (Lu 12:2-3).
