What Would Jesus Undo Week 3: Hypocrisy with Craig Groeschel

What Would Jesus Undo? Hypocrisy

Scripture References

Primary text

• Matthew 23

Other references

• Titus 1:16
• Psalm 139
• Proverbs 28:13

Overview

Jesus reserves His sharpest words for hypocrisy—the gap between the life we display and the life we actually live. In this message Pastor Craig shows that while Jesus has zero tolerance for the mask, He offers unlimited grace to sinners who drop it. By defining hypocrisy, exposing modern “stage-acting,” and inviting honest confession, the sermon calls us to let Christ clean the inside first so the outside can reflect authentic transformation.

Main Points

1. A bumper-sticker wake-up call

• Story: Pastor Craig misjudged traffic, angering a driver who blared his horn and flashed an obscene gesture. When Craig noticed a Life.Church bumper sticker on the car, he sped up to confront him. At the light the driver realized who Craig was, apologized, and sheepishly repeated the church phrase, “God is good … all the time.”
• The incident illustrated how quickly we can present two different faces—one public and “spiritual,” the other angry and fleshly.

2. What hypocrisy is—and is not

• Not the disparity between behavior and good intentions (that’s simply sin).
• Hypocrisy = the gap between what we show and who we are; between public persona and private character.
• Greek term: hupokritēs—an actor who hides behind a mask.
  • Illustration: Craig donned two theatre masks: “angry hypocrite” (legalistic, secretly addicted) and “happy hypocrite” (church smiles, hidden gossip).

3. Jesus’ harshest words target the mask

• Titus 1:16 captures the tension: “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.”
• Seven “woes” (Matthew 23): white-washed tombs, clean cups outside/filthy inside, snakes and vipers.
• Jesus is not condemning imperfect people; He condemns pretending.
• In the temple He overturned tables, showing zero tolerance for outward piety that exploits others.

4. The modern breeding ground—social media

• Platforms invite us to curate an image: perfect marriage posts, staged devotional photos, #EverythingIsAwesome lifestyles.
• We can fool followers, but not God; the mask eventually enslaves the wearer.

5. Pastor Craig’s own mask

• Story: In seminary a professor taught him to guard the “pastor’s mystique”—never reveal doubts, struggles, or marital tension.
• Result: he became “a full-time pastor and a part-time follower of Christ,” promising prayer he rarely offered and studying Scripture only to preach.
• One Sunday he confessed this to his congregation, choosing to be “an honest sinner rather than a lying hypocrite.” The church experienced freedom when many dropped their masks too.

6. How to close the gap

• We do not close it with better performance but with Christ’s inward work.
• Jesus: “First clean the inside … then the outside will be clean” (Matthew 23).
• Proverbs 28:13—concealing sin blocks prosperity; confessing and renouncing brings mercy.
• “You are only as strong as you are honest.”
  • Practice: LifeGroups provide a safe place to say, “I’m addicted,” “We’re drowning in debt,” “I’m terrified of this diagnosis,” and find help.

7. A prayer of exposure and renewal

• David’s cry (Psalm 139) becomes ours: “Search me, God … see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me.”
• The Spirit points to specific areas; we respond with confession and accountability.

Key Truths

• Jesus has zero tolerance for hypocrisy but unlimited grace for honest sinners.
• Hypocrisy is not failing; it is faking.
• The mask may impress people, but it distances us from God and community.
• Confession is the doorway to mercy; concealment keeps us stuck.
• Authentic change begins on the inside and eventually shows on the outside.

Response

• Pray Psalm 139:23-24 regularly and listen for the Spirit’s conviction.
• Identify one mask you wear and confess it to a trusted believer this week.
• Enter (or re-enter) consistent Christian community—LifeGroup or similar—where honesty is normal.
• Replace image-curating posts with truthful conversations that invite support and prayer.
• Celebrate progress, not perfection, remembering that Christ’s grace fuels every step.

Closing

Jesus calls us to drop the act, not to shame us but to free us. When we bring hidden sin into the light, mercy meets us there, and genuine transformation begins.

“I would rather be an honest sinner than a lying hypocrite.”

Prayer

The congregation prayed a surrender prayer, confessing sin, asking for forgiveness through Jesus, and inviting the Holy Spirit to fill and empower a life fully devoted to Christ.