It’s a Heart Thing (lesson one)

Hypocrisy is sickening.       

However, we seem to have distaste for it when we see it in someone else.

Then we will tolerate it in our own lives. The Pharisees were hypocrites and the Lord let them know it.  When we start to act that way GOD will judge us too.

This series will help us live in light of the coming judgment.

Luke 11:37-41 NASB Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table.  (38)  When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.  (39)  But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.  (40)  "You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also?  (41)  "But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.

Avoiding Judgment requires a heart that focuses on what’s important.  How can we determine what is important to us?

Look at how you spend your time and money.  The Pharisees were concerned with how things looked on the outside.  They had written their own book of dos and don’ts called the Mishnah.

Jesus was saying that they focused on the external and neglected the internal.  In Luke 16:14 they are called lovers of money. 

We need to have a heart that dedicated to Jesus.  When we do, we find that we put others first, and the external things are meaningless.