“Beware of hypocrisy”
Whom to fear. Of confessing Christ.
(The Gospel History, Section 98)
In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed: and hid, that shall not be known. Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them which kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Commentary by J. R. Dummelow
Lk 12:1–12. Jesus warns His followers against Pharisaic hypocrisy, and exhorts them to be courageous in face of opposition. This speech is not unsuitable to the context in St. Luke, but the whole of the sayings are found also in St. Matthew’s Gospel, generally in a more natural connexion (mostly in the charge to the Twelve, 10:5–42). Perhaps St. Luke here groups together sayings spoken at different times.
Lk 12:1. When there were] RV ‘when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together.’ They were attracted by the dispute between our Lord and the Pharisees recorded in the last c. Since our Lord begins by addressing His disciples, and warns them of coming persecutions, it may be inferred that the multitude was at first inclined to side with the Pharisees; yet see v. 13, where the authority of Jesus is plainly recognised. Mt 6:6. The leaven] The leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy, ostentation, pride, formalism, scrupulosity, and the tendency to place the letter before the spirit.
Lk 12:2, 3. These vv. have a different connexion and meaning in Mt. (10:26–28).
Lk 12:2. Hypocrisy, like that of the Pharisees, is useless and foolish, for in the Judgment Day there will be a merciless exposure of it.
Lk 12:3. For in that day the most secret words and thoughts of hypocrites will be proclaimed to the whole creation. Therefore (RV ‘Wherefore’)] is better translated ‘for,’ ‘because’ (cp. 1:20 19:44 Ac 12:23). Mt 10:27. Upon the housetops] Proclamations are still made in the East from the flat roofs of houses. E.g. the sabbath is proclaimed by the ‘attendant’ of the synagogue, who ascends to a lofty housetop, and blows there three times with the synagogue-trumpet.
“Beware of hypocrisy”
(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book IV Poem XLIII
Full of the theme forced on Him in that house,
That shameful house, the Lord turned to His own,
And warned the Twelve of sin he must eschew
Who in the Kingdom serves: “Beware,” saith He,
“Of leaven the Pharisees do use to raise
Their daily bread, that it be light to eat
And pleasant in the mouth. ‘What is’t?’ ask ye:
Hypocrisy, a simulated life
Of show and make-believe, and all for what?
Who is deceived by their so seemly shows?
Not God nor man, I tell you, but themselves;
They live a lie and think the lie they live;
For God hath made men to love righteousness,
So they who are unrighteous make-believe;
Some hide themselves behind long prayers and alms,
As ye have seen a child with hazel wand
Forget his rags and, prideful, strut, a prince.
“The child may make believe and play at kings,
Courts, funerals and goodly festivals,—
He follows but the manner of a child;
A man must put away such childish things,
Nor figure as were he some other one,
Great in good works, deserving all men’s praise,
The while his virtue’s as a cloak to hide
Foulness and rags within.
A man may not
Act, as a child, ’fore God; his make-believe
Stript sudden from him leaves him shelterless;
Foulness of death within is, bare, displayed
Before men’s eyes: then, think not to conceal,
Ye who be My disciples; love and truth
Demand no cov’ring; hide ye pride and greed
’Neath lying rags of holiness, behold,
I strip away the cloak; all men perceive,
And hate the thing they see!
Nor yet shall ye
Make secret allies, whisperers who know all
And, for their own advancement, hide the truth
And join in the game of goodness ye would play;
All a man’s words of falsehood and of lust,
Of murderous malice spoken in the ear,—
One from the housetop shall proclaim aloud
That all may hear; nothing is covered up
That shall not be revealed; hid, but is known.”
St. Luke xii. 1–4.
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