Whited Sepulchers

[00:00:00] This audio sermon is provided by AnabaptistSermons.com and may be freely copied and distributed. You may not sell or edit this sermon. Our prayer is that you would be blessed by this ministry. Greetings to each one of you in Jesus' precious name. Truly, the ways of God are marvelous. This morning I have entitled my message, Whited Sepulchers. [00:00:35] Now in Bible days or Bible times, a sepulcher was simply a place of burial. Many of them were hewn in rocks, such as the one that our Savior was buried in, the side of the mountains. Some of the poor people, they were buried below the ground. Today, you can see some over there. [00:01:08] According to the American Tract Society dictionary, you can find them along the base of the hills and mountains in all parts of Syria. You can find them on the south side of the valley of Hinnom, on the west side of Olivet. Tiberius, various other places you can still see sepulchers preserved through many years and time. And according to history, historians, I should say, because I couldn't specifically verify through scriptures on the exact day, [00:01:44] But historians tell us that on the 15th day of the month of Adar, which is before Passover, the Jews would whitewash their sepulchers. The poor people would take lime, powdered lime, and sprinkle it over their graves on the ground. and the rich would use whitewash to whitewash the entrances of their sepulchers. [00:02:16] These were all outside of the city because only kings were buried inside of the cities. There were a few different reasons that they did this. One was to annually beautify the spot of where the graves were, the sepulchers were. Another one was that it was also to mark the spot of the grave. [00:02:47] For they were not only in graveyards as we have them today, but they were in various different places. And if unknowingly you crossed one of these graves that wasn't marked, according to Levitical law you were unclean. And that is one purpose also that they marked these graves, these sepulchres. I find reference to this in Matthew the 23rd chapter, if you care to turn to, I'll be reading some verses there. [00:03:20] Where Jesus mentions these white, whited sepulchers. The place or the setting is here. Jesus is speaking to the multitudes. They're standing in the temple court. And he uses this illustration to make his point clear, Very clear to all that are there on what he thinks, what Jesus thinks of hypocrisy. [00:03:56] And as I read these words that he says in this chapter, I find almost no other place where there's harsher words of rebuke from our Lord and Savior towards, and it's directed towards the Pharisees and the scribes. A group of people who were supposed to be the most religious people of their time. A group that meticulously followed the letter of the law, yet their hearts were far from God. [00:04:31] I'm not exactly sure where the best place was to jump in this chapter. I think I'll start in verse 13 of Matthew 23. And you will see the word woe here quite a few different times. That's not a word we use much in today's language. It simply means an exclamation of grief. Alas, maybe a co-worker of yours was unprepared to meet God and he died in a car accident. [00:05:07] and you hear it and you say oh my for you know the consequences that's the type of what woe means verse 13 but woe unto you scribes and pharisees hypocrites for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men for you neither go in yourselves neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in woe unto you scribes and pharisees hypocrites for you devour widows houses and for a pretense make long prayer therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation woe unto you scribes and pharisees hypocrites for you for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte and when he is made ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves woe unto you ye blind guides which say whosoever shall swear by the temple it is nothing but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple he is a debtor [00:06:04] ye fools and blind for whether is greater the gold or the temple that sanctify the gold and whosoever shall swear by the altar it is nothing but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it he is guilty ye fools and blind for what for whether is greater the gift or the altar that sacrifice sanctify the gift excuse me whosoever therefore shall swear by the altar sweareth by it and by all things thereon and whosoever shall swear by the temple sweareth by it and by him that dwelleth therein [00:06:40] and he that shall swear by heaven sweareth by the throne of God and by him that sitteth thereon woe unto you scribes and pharisees hypocrites for ye paid tithe of mint and annies and cumin and have omitted the weightier matters of the law judgment mercy and faith these ought ye to have done and not leave the other undone Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites For ye may clean the outside of the cup and the platter [00:07:14] But within they are full of extortion and excess Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter That the outside of them may be clean also And here, notice these next two verses especially Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. [00:07:46] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye build the tomb of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then with the measure of your fathers, ye serpents, ye generation of vipers. [00:08:20] How can you escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, and some of them ye shall kill and crucify, and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barakias, whom ye slew between the temple and altar. Verily I say unto you all these things shall come upon this generation [00:08:55] O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not behold your house is left unto you desolate For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth till ye say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord As we can all see, he didn't mince any words [00:09:32] It's very clear Yet, in his great compassion We see here at the end How he longs for them to come to him To not be in this state of hypocrisy They were standing here in the temple courts And as he was giving this illustration All they had to do was turn their heads and see the west side of Olivet [00:10:06] And they could see those white spots Because this was before Passover And it probably had just happened they knew as well as all of us know what's inside a sepulcher dead men's bones, decaying flesh what smells worse than decaying and decomposing flesh the stench of hypocrisy is also very terrible I think to the nostrils of God [00:10:38] and I think he, I don't think, I know he has to turn away He explains this little illustration in verse 26 of how the Pharisees outwardly appeared righteous but within they were full of hypocrisy and iniquity. As I studied about this, I was amazed at the amount of scripture that the Bible has [00:11:11] When it speaks of deceit, when it speaks of hypocrisy. And I think it's something that we need to take a look at. Very simply in Greek, the word hypocrisy means an act in a part of a play. Stage playing. Acting out something that is not really so. Webster says a pretending to be what one is not a pretense of virtue and piety [00:11:47] it is one of Satan's deceptions and it's been around in every age and in every time it's probably an excuse that you've heard of people not wanting to become a part of a church Getting involved in any type of religion. Too many hypocrites. Well, it may be true. It may be true. And yet, I don't think that's a justifiable reason in any way. [00:12:20] For the one who gives that excuse absolutely doesn't take any steps towards heaven and just damns his soul into the same place where the hypocrites are. And so that's why I feel it's really no excuse. It's not a justifiable reason. But you know, for us, like, I'm not sure who mentioned here, It's easy to, I think it was Brother Tim that mentioned, it's easy to see the faults in others. [00:12:55] You know, we think sometimes of this hypocrisy, it's over there, it's out there, it's not here. And, you know, maybe that's just the way we are. but it is, it is easy, easier to see others' inconsistencies but I think that we can read in scripture of where Jesus says [00:13:26] how can you see the splinter in your brother's eyes when there's a log in your own and I think that's something that we need to consider here this morning as we think of this I think the best way for us to confront the disease of hypocrisy is to not identify those that are inconsistent but to look at the man in the mirror and make sure that he is sincere. [00:14:03] You know, the Lord spoke to me as I was studying and in various different ways. And I'll just confess to you this, I have been tempted and failed in areas of hypocrisy. You know, especially in the area of being quick with answers. You know, I like to appear like I've got it all together. But as most of you know, I've got a long way to go [00:14:37] And I guess that's my desire And I confess it to God That I could be open to the leading of God To the leading guidance of brethren You know, I'm not sure why God impressed this message on me today because it doesn't appear like it may be a big problem here but then again, you never know because hypocrisy can be invisible. [00:15:11] It may not always be, but it can be. However, and that's because we're human, we cannot see into the hearts of men such as God can. But one place that it is not invisible and that is between you and God and so that's why I want to stress the importance of if we honestly want to look at hypocrisy we need to begin with ourselves. The root of hypocrisy is [00:15:44] simply pride. We enjoy or we want to think of ourselves as successful, as spiritual, as being Being on top of things, in control of things, well thought of, looked up to, we like just a little bit of honor. But it's very clear in scripture that God hates hypocrisy. It's a stench of decaying bones to him. [00:16:16] Romans 1.18, you want to turn to that? We see here Paul's words. He says, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. In Revelations chapter 21 verse 27 Talking of heaven, describing heaven in the last verse there [00:16:49] and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whosoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. That's hypocrisy, maketh a lie, holding something up that is not the truth. How can I identify if the man in the mirror is a white sepulcher? [00:17:24] I came up with a few questions here, or the Lord showed me a few questions here that I'd like to, they're not all inclusive, but maybe there would be some ways that we could ask ourselves to see if we are sincere, if we are genuine. Question number one, do I truly love the Lord with all my heart? Do I truly love Him at the bottom of my heart? [00:17:56] Do my interests reflect that love? Do the things that I enjoy reflect that love of Christ? we make time or we have time for certain things do they reflect that love of God with all our heart with all our soul and with all our mind maybe another question we could ask is [00:18:26] is the God that I serve the God of the heavens you know when we serve If we are under, if we serve God, we allow Him to have lordship of our life, to be in control of myself. We surrender our rights to God. And you know, in Luke, it talks about serving different masters. [00:18:59] We can't serve more than one master. And there it brings out how we only can serve one or the other You can't serve God and mammon, money You know, and that is a question that I need to ask myself Am I serving God? Is He the one that is controlling my life? You know, there's other masters, and like he mentions here, money is also one. [00:19:36] Money has a way of controlling what we do. The decisions that I make, how much I work, or where I work, or what I do, it always wants to control me. And maybe that's a question that I need to ask myself. What is controlling me? Who makes the decisions? What is telling me what to do? And I recognize, I have four children and a family, and the pressures of life, the pressures of adequately supporting a family, [00:20:19] There are sometimes difficult decisions to make. What is most important? And I recognize that I have not always made the right decisions. But I trust as we ask ourselves, what is controlling? Why are we doing what we are doing when it comes to financial decisions or so? that we take in consideration who has control of my life. [00:20:51] Another question that we could ask, decisions that I make each day, small decisions, the way I act, what I say, how I dress, is it based upon what other people think of me or what we want other people to think of us or is it based upon what I feel that the word of God would have me to do in order to please God? Am I careful what I say depending on who's around? [00:21:33] I recognize that there is a place where there are times when we need to respect the convictions of others. But I think that comes from a heart that wants to please God. Respecting others because of their convictions, we are holding them in respect. It comes from a different heart that seeks to win approval or gain attention of ourselves. [00:22:07] That is more from our carnal nature. I had to ask the question, what is fueled by the desire to be the first one to have something different, unique? You know, there's really something attractive about being unique. And I know God has made us all different. But what fuels that desire? I'll let you think that one through. [00:22:38] Another question that we could ask, is there a name that I want to live up to? You know, we read in Revelations, the third chapter, of Christ's message to one of the churches, to the church of Sardis, actually. He says, I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Now Sardis, the church in Sardis was located in a famous city, a wealthy city. [00:23:12] And the church there even had a reputation of spiritual vitality, yet the one who sees into the hearts said, thou art dead. Do we live up to a name? that's not something that our family would be found doing a family name I don't know maybe these don't apply [00:23:44] another question that we could ask and it's my last one here am I the same person at home as I am when I'm around others and maybe that's something that We need to ask our children or our spouse, am I the same individual? Do I speak the same? Do I have the same attitudes as when I'm around others? There's probably more questions that we could ask ourselves. [00:24:20] But I trust if the Lord convicts us of any of these in our area that we're pretending in, praise God we can change that and there's different ways that we can respond to that well one way is we can say well fine I'll do exactly as I feel and that way I won't be holding any pretense any facades it'll be exactly like everyone knows then that I'm honest and some people may even take this passage [00:24:54] that Jesus speaks here and says that here it makes it clear that we don't need to live under any regulations or codes. But I would like for us to take notice of the first three verses of this chapter. I'll just read them. Then spake Jesus unto the multitude and his disciples, saying, The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that observe and do [00:25:29] but do not ye after their works for they say and do not Jesus never forbid them from following God's law Moses is the Levitical law here he forbade them to follow as the Pharisees did they were saying and not doing and I find that interesting [00:26:00] in verses 25 and 26 he gives the example of how the Pharisees were trying to clean the outside of the cup but the inside was still dirty and so when we respond by saying We'll just do exactly how I feel Then we no longer even clean the outside of the cup And everything is filthy That's even a worse position in than the before [00:26:31] Or equal But the right response we find in verse 26 Of where Jesus says cleanse first that which is on the inside, and then the outside will be clean as well. Everything will be clean. And that's what the right response, I think, is when we clean the inside of the cup. That's why it's so important to have the power of the new birth in our hearts, [00:27:05] that the inside of the cup is clean. Then there's no longer a pretense or pretending. It's genuine. It's clean on the inside and on the outside. And some of the same things that we might have been doing to preserve, to keep the outside clean is from the bottom of our hearts and it becomes a genuine response because of Christ's power in our hearts. we can read in 2nd Timothy the 3rd chapter [00:27:39] Paul writes to Timothy about in the last days I'll just briefly turn there of where there's going to be men that love their own selves covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy without natural affection, truce breakers false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of them that are good, traitors, heedy, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God [00:28:12] and then he says having a form of godliness but denying the power therein you see they're just cleaning the outside of the cup and denying the power therein and later on in the chapter he speaks about how evil men and seducers so wax worse and worse Deceiving and being deceived But, he says, continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of Knowing of whom thou hast learned them That from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures [00:28:44] Which are able to make thee wise unto salvation Through faith which is in Christ Jesus All scripture is given by inspiration of God And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction In righteousness And the last verse is a precious promise to, at least to me, I hope it is to you as well, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished, I love that, thoroughly furnished, equipped what we need to have a genuine relationship with God unto all good works. [00:29:24] you see it's not necessarily that the good works are what is wrong it's the reasons why we're doing the inside Christ's desire for us is to be fruitful and that's what he would like to see real fruit John 15 verse 16 the first part of the verse says He says, ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. [00:30:06] And my friends, in order for us to grow fruit, to be fruit from our lives, we must abide in the vine. We must have the power and draw our strength from Jesus Christ. And that's very critical I think in this day and age as we live in a time of many deceivers Paul also warned Titus of deceivers Chapter 1 verse 16 he describes them as they that profess that they know God [00:30:39] But in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate I think we do well to be careful that we're not influenced by those who profess but do not do. You know, we live in a society where we have music artists that can sing both gospel music and secular music. We live in a society where in our courtrooms men and women place a hand on the Bible. [00:31:17] and lie we have Christians that profess to know God to follow his teachings yet live in adultery you know I was one time at a place where I watched a beauty pageant and I I I don't recommend that at all for anyone. [00:31:50] And in fact, I confess it to my wife and I confess it to God. I don't think that's something we need to watch. Ever. But I was appalled. They had some kind of interviews with some of the ladies. After they were displaying their bodies in an immodest way, they talked about God and the gifts that God gave them and how they're so grateful that God allowed them to be a part of this. And I'm thinking, how? [00:32:23] How can we get there? You know, another thing that we need to take in consideration and that is hypocrisy destroys our own soul but it's also very damaging to those around us, to others. I think of an elderly man that has rejected the gospel his entire life because of an incident that happened in his youth [00:32:54] with a Christian professing man that has turned him against it. David also speaks of the pain of betrayal. Psalms 55, I'd like to read those verses. I'll not be reading every verse, I'll just be reading the verses where he's speaking of this betrayal. Verse 12 in chapter 55. [00:33:27] For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it. Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him. But it was thou, a man my equal, my guide. and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together and walked into the house of God in company. Dropping down to verse 20, he begins speaking of that again. [00:33:58] He hath put forth his hands against me. I'm sorry. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him. He hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter. but war was in his heart his words were softer than oil yet were they drawn swords but thou oh God shall bring them down into the pit of destruction bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half of their days [00:34:30] but I will trust in thee that leaves a pretty bleak picture and that is some of the damage that can be done by holding up a facade. You know, instead of being filled with dead men's bones, let's be filled with the wisdom that James speaks about. That is from above. [00:35:01] That is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without hypocrisy. Is that you? Is that me? I think God desires for us to have a genuine walk with Him. And I think that will, as each one of us looks into the mirror [00:35:35] and make sure that the man in the mirror is sincere then the whole body will be without hypocrisy instead of looking this way and that. Let's begin with ourselves.