Hypocrites and Their Sins

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This evening, we consider two separate episodes in St. John's account of our Lord's Passion. From both the Jewish leaders and from Pontius Pilate we learn the pattern of the hypocrisy that plagues both religious and irreligious sorts.

“Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.” What irony this is! The Jews are mired deep in mayhem and murder, so deep that they cannot think of anything but bloodlust, and yet they will not enter the house of a Gentile, lest they be defiled and not be able to eat the Passover meal.

What irony it is that the Jews would be concerned about celebrating the Passover meal, which commemorates the shedding of the lamb's blood to mark their doors and shield them from the Angel of Death, and at the same time be violently seeking to slaughter the Lamb of God whose blood will protect His people from death and judgment.

But this is the way of so-called religious people. So many in this world seek to perfect themselves from minor sins, and yet leave their great faults unchecked. This is what Jesus means when He talks about those who would strain out a gnat and yet swallow a camel. Such types maintain a scrupulous conscience about observing the minutiae of the Law, but yet consider it actually great holiness and perfection to put to death an innocent man, so that they can continue with their illusions.

On the other hand, we see how Pilate manipulates the situation, so that it seems as though he is innocent of wrong-doing, merely placating the crowds.

“[Pilate] went back outside to the Jews and told them, 'I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?'” Here Pilate betrays that he knows full well what the Jews want, and he also knows full well that Jesus is innocent of any capital crime, and yet he will do the will of men rather than obey the Law.

There is another shade of irony here, that the Jews, who are the children of the Torah, the keepers of the eternal Law, need to be told the verdict of the Law by a Gentile, a pagan with no knowledge of the things of God. And yet, this is the way of things. The world is ruled not by religious people, according to religious standards. Rather, the world is ruled by reason and the principles of natural law and good government.

Still, according to natural law, according to the law of the Roman Empire, Jesus has done nothing wrong. He is no insurrectionist, no revolutionary. He has not challenged the authority of the Emperor in this world. But the Jews level the charge that He has asserted Himself king against Caesar. Pilate sits in judgment over this dispute, and he has the authority to make it right, or to further the miscarriage of justice.

And yet, Pilate attempts to push off the blame by washing his hands of the guilt. But his hands will never be clean of the blood of Jesus. The Jews accept the blood-guiltiness, but it remains also with Pilate. He is guilty of shedding the blood of the Son of God, because it was in his power to stop it, but it was ordained by God that the Son must die.

Hypocrisy is not something unique to any corner of the human race. We all have our own secret sins which are great and terrible, and we have our public holiness which we think is great.

But hypocrites though you may be, and of that there is no doubt, you are still covered in the blood of Christ. The great problem that creates an hypocrite is for you to think that you are actually holy, that your works have some value before God. Hypocrisy is pride masquerading as religious scruples. You have many great sins which no doubt are strong and terrible, but it is easier not to think about those, and rather to focus on what you appear to be doing right.

Stop. Repent. You are not doing things right, not even the little things. To think that you are is worship of yourself. This is the way to find yourself abandoned and forsaken, alone and without any help in the darkness of this world.

Instead, confess your sinful nature. Do not let the devil convince you of your great worth or merit. Neither should you listen to him when he tells you how terrible your small sins are. Do not take comfort in your efforts or holiness, but instead throw all your cares and sins and failings on Jesus Christ. For you are never alone in your sins. Christ is with you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will not leave you alone, even in your hypocrisy and deceit.

For Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior, has taken all your sins onto Himself. You need not hide anything from Him, nor is there anything for which He has not already atoned. You are baptized into His death and resurrection, which are already accomplished events. Your sins are forgiven. There is no need to make up for your great sins with little ones. There is nothing for the devil to throw back at you. All your sins are forgiven.

If there were no hypocrites, there would be no need for a savior, because you could see your own sin, fess up to it, and deal with it yourself. Instead we have Jesus. Thanks be to God.

Behold your king. Behold the Man. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Behold the God who bears your sins and loves you always.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.