Hypocrisy: When “Good” Deeds Reek

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Hypocrisy: When “Good” Deeds Reek
This episode and the next several focus on the 8 woes of Christ against the Pharisees in Matthew 23. The series has so far demonstrated that “good works” are contingent on a good heart. Extrinsic goodness or outwardly good works must flow from a good heart in order to be characterized as good. Since none has a good heart (Romans 3:10-12), no one can produce “good” works, based on God’s standard. Christ’s 8 woes against the Pharisees underscore this point, recording possibly the most devastating rebuke of hypocrisy in all of Scripture. Christ essentially concludes that all the Pharisees’ outwardly good deeds were in fact corrupted because they arose from a corrupt heart. Christ commanded “first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, SO THAT the outside of it may become clean also.” (Mt 23:26) Outwardly “good” works are unclean when the inward condition of the heart remains dirty. The rest of Scripture provides the answer with a new clean heart provided in regeneration.

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  • 00:00:12 – Introduction to Kingdom Questions
  • 00:00:35 – Can Unbelievers Do Good Works?
  • 00:01:43 – The Nature of Goodness
  • 00:03:11 – The Great Commandments
  • 00:05:04 – Intrinsic Goodness vs. Outward Works
  • 00:07:24 – The Pharisees and Their Righteousness
  • 00:09:29 – Christ’s Teachings on Cleanliness
  • 00:10:58 – Regeneration and a New Heart
  • 00:12:42 – Conclusion and Prayer
  • 00:13:05 – Outro and Next Episode Preview
Hypocrisy: When “Good” Deeds Reek

Podcast (kingdomquestions): Play in new window | Download | Embed

  • 00:00:12 – Introduction to Kingdom Questions
  • 00:00:35 – Can Unbelievers Do Good Works?
  • 00:01:43 – The Nature of Goodness
  • 00:03:11 – The Great Commandments
  • 00:05:04 – Intrinsic Goodness vs. Outward Works
  • 00:07:24 – The Pharisees and Their Righteousness
  • 00:09:29 – Christ’s Teachings on Cleanliness
  • 00:10:58 – Regeneration and a New Heart
  • 00:12:42 – Conclusion and Prayer
  • 00:13:05 – Outro and Next Episode Preview
This episode and the next several focus on the 8 woes of Christ against the Pharisees in Matthew 23. The series has so far demonstrated that “good works” are contingent on a good heart. Extrinsic goodness or outwardly good works must flow from a good heart in order to be characterized as good. Since none has a good heart (Romans 3:10-12), no one can produce “good” works, based on God’s standard. Christ’s 8 woes against the Pharisees underscore this point, recording possibly the most devastating rebuke of hypocrisy in all of Scripture. Christ essentially concludes that all the Pharisees’ outwardly good deeds were in fact corrupted because they arose from a corrupt heart. Christ commanded “first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, SO THAT the outside of it may become clean also.” (Mt 23:26) Outwardly “good” works are unclean when the inward condition of the heart remains dirty. The rest of Scripture provides the answer with a new clean heart provided in regeneration.

Episode Scripture References -

1 Timothy 5:8 , Psalm 119:68, Romans 3:10-12, Matthew 23:15, Matthew 23:26, John 3:5, Galatians 3:24

More About This Episode -

Victor cites Luke 11 to illustrate that even unregenerate people can perform acts that appear good on a superficial level, such as caring for their children. However, he argues that these actions do not meet the biblical standard of goodness since they lack a focus on God. He explains that the essence of goodness is based on the Great Commandments: to love God and love one’s neighbor. Victor notes that while non-Christians can appear to do good works, the reality is that their actions stem from a place of mixed motives—selfishness and natural affections endowed by God. He supports this claim with a reference to Romans 3, highlighting that no one is righteous and no one does good inherently. He further discusses the hypocrisy of the Pharisees as described in Matthew 23, arguing that their outward observance of the law had overshadowed the true purpose of love for God. The Pharisees tried to enforce additional laws to ensure obedience, resulting in external compliance rather than genuine goodness. Victor underscores that Christ urged the need for inward transformation, suggesting that without it, actions perceived as good lack value.

Key Terms From This Episode -

– Main Question: Can non-Christians perform good works? – Key Points: – Definition of ‘good’ is crucial for understanding good works. – True goodness must be intrinsic; outward acts without intrinsic goodness are not true good works. – Cites Luke 11 to show unregenerate people can appear to do good (e.g., caring for children). – Argues these actions don’t align with biblical goodness, which focuses on God. – Essence of goodness based on the Great Commandments: love God and love one’s neighbor. – Non-Christians’ actions stem from mixed motives—selfishness and natural affections from God. – References Romans 3 to emphasize that no one is inherently righteous or good. – Discusses hypocrisy of the Pharisees in Matthew 23, where law observance overshadowed love for God. – Pharisees’ enforcement of additional laws led to external compliance over genuine goodness. – Christ emphasized the need for inward transformation for true goodness. – Conclusion: Without heart regeneration, true good works are impossible.

Episode Scripture References -

1 Timothy 5:8 , Psalm 119:68, Romans 3:10-12, Matthew 23:15, Matthew 23:26, John 3:5, Galatians 3:24

More About This Episode -

Victor cites Luke 11 to illustrate that even unregenerate people can perform acts that appear good on a superficial level, such as caring for their children. However, he argues that these actions do not meet the biblical standard of goodness since they lack a focus on God. He explains that the essence of goodness is based on the Great Commandments: to love God and love one’s neighbor. Victor notes that while non-Christians can appear to do good works, the reality is that their actions stem from a place of mixed motives—selfishness and natural affections endowed by God. He supports this claim with a reference to Romans 3, highlighting that no one is righteous and no one does good inherently. He further discusses the hypocrisy of the Pharisees as described in Matthew 23, arguing that their outward observance of the law had overshadowed the true purpose of love for God. The Pharisees tried to enforce additional laws to ensure obedience, resulting in external compliance rather than genuine goodness. Victor underscores that Christ urged the need for inward transformation, suggesting that without it, actions perceived as good lack value.

Key Terms From This Episode -

– Main Question: Can non-Christians perform good works? – Key Points: – Definition of ‘good’ is crucial for understanding good works. – True goodness must be intrinsic; outward acts without intrinsic goodness are not true good works. – Cites Luke 11 to show unregenerate people can appear to do good (e.g., caring for children). – Argues these actions don’t align with biblical goodness, which focuses on God. – Essence of goodness based on the Great Commandments: love God and love one’s neighbor. – Non-Christians’ actions stem from mixed motives—selfishness and natural affections from God. – References Romans 3 to emphasize that no one is inherently righteous or good. – Discusses hypocrisy of the Pharisees in Matthew 23, where law observance overshadowed love for God. – Pharisees’ enforcement of additional laws led to external compliance over genuine goodness. – Christ emphasized the need for inward transformation for true goodness. – Conclusion: Without heart regeneration, true good works are impossible.
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