All of our lives we are wise to live with this in mind:

WHEN JESUS SPEAKS-LISTEN. It’s truth.

The following are the words of Jesus to the disciples-as you read keep in mind there was a major distraction- they were surrounded by thousands of people.

And now-As we read the words of Jesus today, they have the same authority and power they had when they were first spoken. The words of humans fade away. The words of God stand forever.

Focus on the words of Jesus:

 

“In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”

Luke 12:1-3

 

We are wise to apply the words of Jesus to our lives. Especially with a word like leaven.

 

What is leaven you ask? Not a commonly used word today, the quick answer is yeast or baking soda. These two-cause dough to rise. They quickly spread throughout the dough. Jesus used the word leaven, not yeast or soda. He meant it to describe falsehood in humans. We have another name for it: hypocrisy. Jesus taught His disciples that hypocrisy is like leaven. It quickly spreads through the human heart. With hypocrisy, we mean, saying one thing and doing another. Or expecting everyone to act a certain way but not acting that way yourself-that hypocrisy. No one likes it…we all do it.

 

Hypocrisy is like yeast or leaven. Just a little…and it spreads quickly through the human soul.

 

Immediately after warning the disciples about the “leaven” of hypocrisy Jesus said these things:

 

1. “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed.”

2. “Whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light.”

 

There are no secrets with God. No-thing can be hidden from God. God is truth. These are clear truths.

Jesus did not use the words lies and deceit but hypocrisy causes them. With them comes our natural tendency to hide things from others and cover things up. Hypocrisy is how cover up begins. We cannot hide our hypocrisy from God.

 

What do we do with these words of Jesus?

Jesus knew when He first spoke them just how difficult it is for sinners like you and me to be careful with our words and always speak truth. He knew at that moment that in the coming days Peter would deny Him 3 times. We are no different. Just saying the truth here-you and I are born hypocrites.

 

Take a deep breath. There is no intent on my part to be insulting. I am a hypocrite too.

 

Really, what should our response be to Jesus’ words?

 

Neither of us like doing this but we start by confessing our never-ending tendencies to lie, to speak rumors against our neighbors and attempt to cover all of it up. We start by telling Jesus we have a problem with our tongues and hearts. You can use the word hypocrite-He already knows.

 

Then we ask Him to set a guard on our tongues… because none of us can control our tongues:

The Bible book of James explains it this way…

“…But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

James 3:8-10

 

What should we do about our tongues and the resulting hypocrisy?

 

Pray.

Confess.

Ask God for help.

 We could end our prayer with these words…

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

Psalm 141:3

 

Now for the good news question…do you think Jesus will answer a prayer like this?

 

There is no doubt in my mind.