In ancient Greek amphitheatres, performers played many roles, often wearing a variety of masks in one scene. Their characters were identified by those various masks. The term “hypocrite” evolved as synonymous with someone pretending to be what they are not. It means “false face.” You may have heard someone say, “I’ll never go to that church. They’re all hypocrites!” Christians may not always act like followers of Jesus, but that doesn’t mean they’re hypocrites.
Jesus identified the hypocrites of His day. He was often challenged by the Jewish religious leaders: “And He was saying to (the Pharisees), 'You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world '” ( John8:23).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and began praying this regarding himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke18:10-14).
This is the attitude of the Pharisees! Jesus exposed their hypocrisy! He told His disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees!” (Matthew 16:6).
A church may have elders and deacons. Deacons are specific servants in the church. Elders are leaders having a heavenly origin. They shepherd the Lord’s church. The role of leading God’s people has no room for pride and arrogance. That’s the “leaven of the Pharisees” Jesus warned about. He saw it in the Jewish religious leaders! An elder does not have a position of authority, but God-given responsibility (please read 1 Timothy 3:8-13; Titus 1:5-9).
Church leaders must be gentle and caring disciples of Jesus (1 Peter 5:1-7). There is no head elder but Jesus. Jesus also said that no one will enter God’s kingdom unless they become like a child (please read Matthew 18:1-4). Innocence and humility are character traits of childrennk”. Jesus also said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Pride and arrogance are not traits of little children. Let’s have childlike faith as we follow Jesus!