Sincerity and Hypocrisy

by Ellen Hogarty

As I continue organizing my notes from the past, I'll share with you another teaching from Father Thomas that I've been reflecting on about hypocrisy.

In Luke 13:20 we read, “What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with? It is like the yeast which a woman mixed with a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

What is the Kingdom of God? A better question is, WHO is the Kingdom of God?

We are supposed to be. Another way to say "kingdom of God" is to say the “family of God.” The Kingdom of God made up of people.

Small beginnings

God wants to start his Kingdom with a very, very small thing. In this parable from Luke 13:20, Jesus uses yeast. We are supposed to be good yeast, not bad yeast.

Earlier in Luke, Jesus tells his disciples, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Luke 12:1

What is hypocrisy? Hypocrisy is wearing a mask so that our real face doesn’t show. An opposite of hypocrisy is sincerity. Sincerity comes from the root “sin-cere” which literally means “without wax.” Wax was used to cover up the cracks, to hide the flaws. So “with wax” would be with falsehood, with pretending or putting on a show; to say and do what looks good but is not real.

Jesus is telling this to his disciples—be on your guard against hypocrisy.

The truth will come out. “Everything that is covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight…” It’s all going to come out.

God's Kingdom

It’s very important to God that we be a part of the Kingdom of God. But the Kingdom that he wants.

God couldn’t reach most of the Pharisees. They looked good on the outside but often weren’t good on the inside. It was all show, all cosmetics.

Jesus said, “Become like little children.” Little children don’t have masks.

God can’t build his family with the yeast of hypocrisy. Make sure the yeast in you is God’s yeast. Don’t let your life be a show, pretense or hypocrisy.

"Let your love be sincere..." Romans 12:9