How does Acts 23:3 relate to Jesus' teachings on hypocrisy in Matthew 23? Setting the Scene Acts 23 finds Paul before the Sanhedrin. When the high priest Ananias orders Paul struck, Paul responds: “Then Paul said to him, ‘God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the Law, yet you yourself violate the Law by ordering that I be struck.’” (Acts 23:3) Paul’s Rebuke Echoes Jesus’ Words • Whitewashed imagery links directly to Jesus’ description of religious leaders: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs…” (Matthew 23:27-28) • Both confront leaders who appear righteous outwardly yet act lawlessly. • Paul’s “God shall strike you” aligns with Jesus’ repeated warnings of coming judgment on hypocrisy (Matthew 23:33-36). Jesus’ Full Teaching on Hypocrisy (Matthew 23 Highlights) • Verse 3 — “They do not practice what they preach.” • Verse 23 — Neglect of “justice, mercy, and faithfulness.” • Verses 27-28 — Whitewashed tombs: clean outside, dead inside. Shared Core Themes • Outward show vs. inward reality: external piety cannot mask sinful hearts. • Misuse of God’s Law: judging others while breaking the same Law (compare Romans 2:1-3). • Certainty of divine judgment: God Himself will expose hypocrisy (Psalm 51:6; Hebrews 4:13). • Call to authenticity: obedience flowing from a transformed heart (James 1:22; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Supporting Passages • Leviticus 19:15 — “Do not pervert justice.” • Isaiah 29:13 — People honor God with lips, hearts far away. • Micah 6:8 — “Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.” • 1 Samuel 15:22 — “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” Living in Integrity Today • Measure actions by God’s word, not by reputation. • Refuse selective obedience; embrace the “weightier matters” of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. • Invite Scripture and the Spirit to expose hidden motives, ensuring the inside matches the outside. |
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