Page 43 - Lunacy and the Age of Deception

In Greek society, these stage actors would be called “hupokrites,” or hypocrites. Fallen humanity has
always inordinately, and unjustly, rewarded the hypocrites. Those who are most able to deceive
mankind are inevitably showered with honor and material wealth by society. Two thousand years
ago in the land of Judea the masters of illusion and hypocrisy were the religious elite. The Son of
God identified the Scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites, or stage actors. These men were every bit as
much pretenders as the A-list actors and directors of Hollywood today. Like present day performers,
the Scribes and Pharisees were elevated to a status which was undeserved.

Matthew 23:14, 27-28
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, even while for
a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation... Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear
beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too
outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

We have already observed that the word “hypocrite” describes a stage actor, someone who is playing
a part. Christ further stated that these men made long prayers in public for a “pretense.” They were
“pretenders.” Outwardly they appeared beautiful, but their true character was ugly, offensive, being
marked by gross wickedness. Nevertheless, it was very profitable to be a pretender in Jewish society
in Christ’s day even as it is profitable to be a deceiver today. Christ stated:

Matthew 23:5-7
“They do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the
tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the
synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi.”

The Scribes and Pharisees were the most disreputable, the most morally repugnant, and the least
humanitarian members of society. Furthermore, they were the greatest exemplifiers of the character
of Satan, to the point that Christ declared them to be the offspring of the devil.

John 8:44
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He... does not stand
in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own
nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.”

The Son of God declared the truth. The Scribes and Pharisees were charlatans. They were liars,
pretenders, and there was no truth in them. Yet, in spite of this reality, the Jewish people showered
these men with honor and material reward. They reserved for them the seats of honor at their
banquets. They greeted them with words of respect. They spoke reverently of them as their “rabbis”
which means alternately both “teachers” and “great men.” We see the same regard accorded to the
Hollywood elite of our day, and if you can receive it, Hollywood has become the religion of the
people, populated with its numerous “idols.”