His Word Today

⁹ “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. ¹⁰ And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹² And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:9–14 (ESV)

With every study of a particular biblical text, it is important to ask five fundamental questions. Those inquiries are fundamental to every devotional I write. The five questions, pertinent to any portion of Scripture, certainly and significantly apply to Matthew 24-25 in general, and to today’s text in particular. Those five questions are as follows:

• What did the biblical text mean to the original audience?
• What are the differences/similarities between the biblical audience and people today?
• What is/are the principle(s) found in the biblical text?
• Are the principles(s) found in the particular biblical text found elsewhere in the Scriptures?
• How may we apply the biblical text in our lives?

In Matthew 24:5-8, Jesus proclaimed life and living, following His ascension to heaven and prior to His glorious return to the earth, would be characterized by false prophets claiming to by the Christ. It would also be a time of deception, wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, kingdoms rising against kingdoms, famines and earthquakes in various places. He compared these circumstances to the beginning of birth pains.

Jesus continued by describing the same historical context as a time of tribulation, hatred and death for believers in Christ (Matt. 24:9). The three references to the personal pronoun “you” is in the plural form. In the immediate context, this referred to Jesus’ first disciples, particularly Peter, Andrew, James and John (Mark 13:3). In the overall context, this troublesome period applies to all followers of Jesus.

The pronoun “they” refers to the false prophets who claim to be the Christ. Historically, these false teachers have included political, economic, sociological, psychological, scientific, atheistic, and religious rulers and influencers. The one thing they all have in common is they hate Jesus Christ and, therefore, they hate His disciples (John 15:18-27).

To “deliver up” (παραδώσουσιν; paradosousin) means to hand over and to betray unto harm. This will be the behavior of unbelievers in the future against believers in Christ. This not only occurred in the ancient church (Acts 4-5; 7:54-60; 8:1-5; 9:1-2;12:1-19; Romans 5:1-5; Philippians 1:12; I Thessalonians 2:1-2;  I Peter 1:1-7; 2:11-12, 18-25; 3:13-17; 4:1-6, 12-19; 5:6-11; James 1:1-5; Rev. 1:9) and throughout church history, but also up to the present day with the recent martyrdom of two Christian missionaries in Haiti.

Tribulation (θλῖψιν; thilpsen) means affliction, distress, trouble and suffering. Jesus used this same word in John 16:33. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Death (ἀποκτενοῦσιν; apoktenousin) means to be killed by force and violence. Jesus was not referring to a natural death by either disease or old age. This was death by forceful intent and elimination.

The Lord’s prediction of His disciples being hated (μισούμενοι; misoumenoi) refers to the reason for their tribulation and violent death. Again, the fallen world detests and is hostile to Christ and His disciples. All followers of Jesus will be persecuted for His name’s sake. In other words, the fallen world will persecute us because of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

“But it was monstrous and incredible, and was fitted to astonish and shake even the strongest minds, that the name of the Son of God should be so infamous and hateful, and that all who professed it would be everywhere disliked,” states John Calvin.

Jesus said this would happen. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11–12 (ESV).

Have a blessed day in the Lord, regardless of your circumstances. You are blessed!

Soli deo Gloria!

⁵ “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Matthew 24:5–8 (ESV)

Jesus warned His disciples of many who would lead many astray. The exact identity of these deceivers is unknown to us. However, three indisputable facts emerge. First, they will come. Second, they will come in saying they are the Christ. Third, they will come saying they are the Messiah in order to lead people astray, or to cause them to wander from the truth.

The Lord also cautioned and commanded His disciples to not be alarmed (θροεῖσθε; throeisthe) or troubled by unfolding events occurring in their lifetime. There would be wars and rumors of wars. There would also be natural disasters such as famines and earthquakes. Jesus said these calamities would take place but the time of His return remained uncertain.

“Wars, earthquakes, persecutions and false prophets are all signs of Jesus’ coming, but they indicate only the certainty of judgment, not its timing. Such signs characterize the entire period between His resurrection and His coming in judgment,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul. “Knowing when Jesus will return might lead His disciples to laziness and laxity in their watchfulness.”

“These troubles were associated with the sufferings many Jews thought would immediately precede the end (e.g., 4 Ezra 9:3; 13:31–32). For Jesus, they are only the “beginning of birth pangs” and characterize life as normal in this age. He describes some of them in Old Testament language (2 Chron. 15:6; Isaiah 19:2; Jer. 51:46),” states commentator Craig Keener.

In October of this year, I will observe my 50^th spiritual birthday. It was in 1974 when the Holy Spirit regenerated my soul, enabled me to repent of my sin and place my God-given faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God converted me by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. I once was lost, but now am found. I once was dead, but now I am alive (Eph. 2:1-5).

During these five decades as a believer in Christ, I have witnessed many self-appointed messiahs predict and proclaim the end of the world and for people to swear unquestioning allegiance to them. Jim Jones and David Koresh were two individuals whose megalomania and thirst for power and influence resulted in the deaths of many who they led astray.

Many charlatans and false prophets continue to influence individuals today claiming to have all the answers, if you just follow them. If you do so, you will have your best life now. Be on your guard. See that no one leads you astray or deceives you.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁵ “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Matthew 24:5–8 (ESV)

Jesus warned His disciples of those who would lead many astray. The exact identity of these deceivers is unknown. However, three indisputable facts emerge. First, they will come. Second, they will come in saying they are the Christ. Third, they will come saying they are the Messiah in order to lead people astray, or to cause them to wander from the truth.

“Many false messianic figures arose in the first century (and subsequently); they often attracted large and devoted followings. Although Josephus, writing for Gentile readers, describes them as “false prophets” rather than as messiahs, their political aspirations are usually apparent in his descriptions,” explains commentator Craig Keener.

The reliability of Jesus’ words, and His own identity, was confirmed by an unlikely source. Following their numerous arrests (Acts 4:1-3; 5:17-18, 26-27), and future persecutions (Acts 5:40; 7:54-60; 8:1-3; 12:1-5), the Pharisee known as Gamaliel warned his fellow members of the Sanhedrin Council to take care in what they would do to the apostles (Acts 5:35).  

³⁶ For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice. (Acts 5:36-39 ESV)

“The Pharisee was Gamaliel, who is described in extra biblical Jewish literature as one of the wisest and most pious of the era’s rabbis. Gamaliel also was one of the teachers of the Apostle Paul (22:3). Using examples of other Jewish leaders whose movements had begun strong but evaporated, Gamaliel recommended that the Sanhedrin leave the Apostles alone because the movement would come to an end naturally if it were not from God. Time would reveal the truth, and if the movement were from God and they opposed it, they would be in the unenviable position of opposing the Lord (5:33–39a). The council heeded Gamaliel’s words, likely because they knew he was popular with the people, and released the Apostles after flogging them (vv. 39b–40),” explains one commentator.

John Calvin comments, “Although the wicked attempt whatsoever they can, and seek all means to destroy the Church, although they furiously strive against Christ and his Church so much as they are able, yet they shall not prevail.”

The existence of the church for close to two millennium is one evidence Jesus Christ is God and His Words are true. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!  

⁴ And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” Matthew 24:4–5 (ESV)

The Oxford English Dictionary defines astray as “away from the correct path or direction.” It also means to “be in error or to have morally questionable behavior.” The Greek word, (πλανήσῃ; planese), which Jesus used twice, means to mislead, to deceive and to stray from the truth. It means to cause someone to hold a wrong point of view and to be mistaken.  

Inherent in the word astray is the concept of an objective standard from which one wanders or deviates. You cannot be led, or lead someone, astray unless there is a standard and rule by which to judge, or navigate, your present position. It is on the basis of an objective standard that individuals can see if they have wandered from the correct path, are in error, or have morally questionable behavior.

The Scriptures are the objective standard which determines objective truth or reality from non-truth and fantasy. The bible determines whether people are deceived. Consider the following biblical passages affirming the reliability of the Bible’s truthfulness.

Psalm 19:7–14 (ESV) – “⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; ⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; ⁹ the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. ¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. ¹² Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. ¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

John 17:14–19 (ESV) – “¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) – “¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Ironically, false teachers have attempted to use The Olivet Discourse as a means of leading people astray from the truth of Scripture. They say the discourse is full of errors; principally being the time of Jesus’ predicted return to earth in power, might and glory. Therefore, skeptics conclude if Matthew 24-25 cannot be trusted as true neither can the rest of the Bible.

“When Bertrand Russell wrote his book Why I Am Not a Christian, he cited a portion of this discourse as being one of the chief reasons for his rejection of Christianity,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul. “The problem, as we will see when the disciples asked for the time reference of these things, is that Jesus makes the assertion that this generation would not pass away until all the things included in this discourse came to pass, which would include His coming in clouds of glory.”

Bertrand Russell said: “Jesus said that He would come back within the course of one generation, and He failed to do it. So, as amazing as the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem was, the credibility of Jesus and the credibility of the New Testament collapses with the time frame reference by which Jesus predicted His coming in glory.”

“I have to say that, in my estimation, conservative Christians and evangelical scholars who have struggled with the tension of this text mostly fail to feel the real weight of this problem. I think it is the weightiest problem we have in the New Testament with respect to the truth claims of the nature of Christ and Scripture,” states Dr. Sproul.

It is into these troubled waters we begin to set sail. May the Lord provide us the interpretative guidance we need to sail safely knowing the LORD will bring us to the port of truth. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

³ “As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” ⁴ And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.” (Matthew 24:3–4 (ESV)

“A little while afterward Jesus is sitting on the Mount of Olives. We can imagine how, looking across the valley, a truly fascinating view disclosed itself to the eyes of the little company. There was the roof of the temple bathed in a sea of golden glory. There were those beautiful terraced courts and also those cloisters of snowy marble which seemed to shine and sparkle in the light of the setting sun. And then to think that all this glory was about to perish! The minds of the disciples reeled and staggered when they pondered that mysterious and awesome prediction.” – Dr. William Hendriksen

The disciples privately came to Jesus as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives. Mark’s Gospel indicates it was Peter, Andrew, James and John who approached the Lord (Mark 13:3). They began to continually ask Him when the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem would occur (Matt. 24:1-2). They also asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age? This reveals a clear distinction between the near, and the ultimate, fulfillment of these events.

The phrase “sign of your coming” is an event with special meaning. It may refer to a normal or miraculous sign (Matt. 12:38; Mark 8:11; Luke 2:12; 21:11, 25; John 2:11; Acts 2:19; 7:36; Rom. 15:19; 1 Cor. 1:22; 14:22; 2 Cor. 12:12; 2 Thess. 2:9; Heb. 2:4; Rev. 19:20). The event in question would be the second coming (παρουσίας; parousias) of the Lord. This would be the Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Advent.

“The very form in which the question is cast—the juxtaposition of the clauses—seems to indicate that, as these men (spokesmen for the rest of The Twelve) interpret the Master’s words, Jerusalem’s fall, particularly the destruction of the temple, would mean the end of the world. In this opinion they were partly mistaken, as Jesus is about to show. A lengthy period of time would intervene between Jerusalem’s fall and the culmination of the age, the second coming. Nevertheless, the disciples were not entirely wrong: there was indeed a connection between the judgment to be executed upon the Jewish nation and the final judgment on the day of the consummation of all things. As has already been indicated, the first was a type, a foreshadowing or adumbration, of the second,” explains Dr. Hendriksen.

Jesus answered the four men, and the other disciples, by saying ““See that no one leads you astray.” Jesus commanded them to personally take responsibility to not allow anyone to mislead or deceive them. The disciples were not to stray from the truth Jesus was about to communicate.

“Luke 19:11 records that the disciples still “supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.” The destruction of the temple (Matt. 24:2) did not fit the eschatological scheme they envisioned, so they asked for clarification. Jesus addressed their questions in reverse order, describing the prophetic sign of his coming (actually a series of signs) in vv. 4–35 and then addressing their question about the timing of these events beginning in v. 36,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.  

“When they asked about his coming (Greek, parousia; lit., “presence”), they did not envision a second coming in the far-off future. They were speaking of his coming in triumph as Messiah, an event that they no doubt anticipated would occur presently. Even if they were conscious of his approaching death, which he had plainly prophesied to them on repeated occasions (see note on 20:19), they could not have anticipated his ascension to heaven and the long intervening church age. However, when Jesus used the term parousia in his discourse, he used it in the technical sense as a reference to his second coming.”

It is to these “series of signs” we will begin to unpack when next we meet. Until then, have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:1–2 (ESV)

After His scathing denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 23:13-36), and His prophecy against Jerusalem (23:37-39), Jesus began leaving the temple mount area. At this time, His disciples came and pointed out to Him the magnificent buildings of the temple area. Mark 13:1-8 indicates it was one unidentified disciple who made the comment about the buildings.

Dr. John MacArthur provides great insight into the scale and scope of the temple area at this time.

“This temple was begun by Herod the Great in 20 B.C. (see Matt. 2:1) and was still under construction when the Romans destroyed it in A.D. 70. At the time of Jesus’ ministry, the temple was one of the most impressive structures in the world, made of massive blocks of stone bedecked with gold ornamentation. Some of the stones in the temple complex measured 40x12x12 feet and were expertly quarried to fit perfectly against one another. The temple buildings were made of gleaming white marble, and the whole eastern wall of the large main structure was covered with gold plates that reflected the morning sun, making a spectacle that was visible for miles. The entire temple mount had been enlarged by Herod’s engineers, by means of large retaining walls and vaulted chambers on the south side and southeast corner. By this means the large courtyard area atop the temple mount was effectively doubled. The whole temple complex was magnificent by any standard. The disciples’ conversation here may have been prompted by Jesus’ words in 23:38. They were undoubtedly wondering how a site so spectacular could be left “desolate.”

However, Jesus answer was not encouraging, but pessimistic. He said, ““You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Jesus predicted the impending doom the Romans would bring in A.D. 70.  They would devastate and destroy not only the   temple, but also the city.

“Some Greek philosophers were unimpressed with magnificent structures, but Jesus’ response goes far beyond this attitude—he speaks of judgment. Some other Jewish groups (including the Qumran sect) also expected the temple to be judged; but most Jews, regardless of their other differences, found in the temple a symbol of their Jewish unity and would have been appalled to think that God would allow it to be destroyed (as in Jer. 7:4–15). Some stones were left on others (e.g., part of one wall still stands), but this fact does not weaken the force of the hyperbole: the temple was almost entirely demolished in a.d. 70,” states commentator Craig Keener.

“These words were literally fulfilled in A.D. 70. Titus, the Roman general, built large wooden scaffolds around the walls of the temple buildings, piled them high with wood and other flammable items, and set them ablaze. The heat from the fires was so intense that the stones crumbled. The rubble was then sifted to retrieve the melted gold, and the remaining ruins were “thrown down” into the Kidron Valley,” explains Dr. MacArthur.

As we shall see, the disciples would be shocked and curious about the temple’s future of destruction. They wanted to know when this would happen. Jesus would provide them, and believers in Christ today, a cryptic answer.

Soli deo Gloria!

^“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3 (ESV)

The Olivet Discourse is the sixth and final instructional discourse, or sermon, found in Matthew’s Gospel. The previous five concerned kingdom ethics (Matt. 5-7), discipleship and mission (Matt. 10), kingdom parables (Matt. 13), church relationships (Matt. 18) and the Seven Woes (Matt. 23). The Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25) concerns the end times and the subsequent return of the Lord Jesus Christ in power, might and glory.

These discourses are often compared to the Pentateuch; the five books of Moses (Genesis – Deuteronomy). However, efforts by some interpreters to combine Matt. 23 with chs. 24-25 seems manipulative. The Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21) may have intended Matthew to reinforce the overall theme of Jesus being the promised prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:18).

Biblical scholars call this sermon The Olivet Discourse because Jesus delivered this address as He sat on the Mount of Olives with His disciples. The hill is directly east of the temple, across the Kidron Valley (Luke 19:29). This location provided the best panoramic view of Jerusalem. At the base of this mountain was the Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus preached this sermon in direct response to the disciples’ questions of “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” These questions were because of the preceding context of Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem and its impending destruction (Matthew 23:37-39). Like the preceding five discourses, Matthew’s language here is highly symbolic. The narrative includes many events and not just a single incident.

The text may be divided into three subjects. First, the destruction of Jerusalem. Second, the second coming of Christ in judgment. Third, the end of the ages. Jesus distinguished the Fall of Jerusalem (70 A.D.) from His second coming. Jesus prepared His disciples for the destruction of Jerusalem in their lifetime (24:15-28, 32-35), while emphasizing His glorious return would not be predicable and could happen at any time (24:36-50).

“The prophetic material found in this sixth discourse has reference not only to events near at hand (see, for example, verse 16) but also to those stretching far into the future, as is clear from 24:14, 29–31; 25:6, 31–46. Cf. Luke 21:24,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.  

“By the process of prophetic foreshortening, by means of which before one’s eyes the widely separated mountain peaks of historic events merge and are seen as one, as has been explained in connection with 10:23 and 16:28, two momentous events are here intertwined, namely, a. the judgment upon Jerusalem (its fall in the year a.d. 70), and b. the final judgment at the close of the world’s history. Our Lord predicts the city’s approaching catastrophe as a type of the tribulation at the end of the dispensation.”

The goal is to examine this discourse in small increments in order to understand the overall content. Next time, the text to be considered will be 24:1-3. Until then, have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (Matthew 23:13 (ESV)

“My heart I offer to you, O Lord, promptly and sincerely.” — John Calvin

Oh yes, I’m the great pretender, Pretending I’m doing well. My need is such I pretend too much, I’m lonely but no one can tell. – Samuel “Buck” Ram

At the heart of any and all hypocrisy is the posture of pretending or pretentiousness. We hide who we really are from other people. We pretend to be something, or someone, we are not. We act a part and hope no one discovers who we really are.

“Of all the spiritual dangers to which Christ alerted His disciples, few of them outweigh His warnings concerning hypocrisy. And our Lord left little room for confusion about what He meant. One need only read the Sermon on the Mount, where Christ calls out the dangers of hypocrisy when it invades prayer, fasting, giving to the poor, or practices of righteousness (Matt. 6:1–6, 16). He is even more explicit in the Seven Woes, where He hammers the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who “preach, but do not practice”; do their religious deeds “to be seen”; love seats and titles of honor; are blind to worldlines, justice, and mercy; strain out gnats while swallowing camels; and appear clean without but are unclean within (Matt. 23:1–36). This is the spiritual hazard that Christ described as “leaven,” which spreads invisibly and thoroughly (Luke 12:1),” states Dr. Craig Troxel, Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary, CA.

“By talking about hypocrisy, Christ was invoking a familiar and graphic image to illustrate when you and I pretend to be something that we are not. The root of the word hypocrite refers to an actor. In ancient Greece, actors wore masks to indicate what parts they were playing. Those in the audience would see the facial shell, which hid the real person underneath. This illustrates the concept of hypocrisy—what others see makes a pleasant impression, but it is false. Our religious mask betrays what is truly underneath. The thin veneer of our religious hypocrisy hides the cheap material within. It is a lie.”

However, God knows who we are. He knows everything about us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Consider the words of King David in Psalm 139:1-4.

¹“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! ² You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. ³ You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” 

2 Corinthians 1:12 (ESV) says, “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

The Apostle Paul stated the opposite of hypocrisy is godly sincerity. Sincerity (εἰλικρινείᾳ; eilikrineia) refers to having pure motives in everything we do. Sincerity is to be done with simplicity (holiness) and godliness.   

“Paul’s point in 2 Corinthians is strikingly similar to what our Lord teaches in the phrase “Blessed are the pure in heart” (Matt. 5:8). It is important to note that our Lord does not mean a heart that is washed clean. Here He uses “pure” to signify what is undivided or without mixture—a similar idea is what is printed on bottled water: “100% pure spring water.” It is water without contaminants. So also, a pure heart lacks the contaminants of idolatry. It is not divided in its interests and it does not have mixed motives. It is unified by a singular devotion,” explains Dr. Troxel.

Where is hypocrisy in your life? Is it in your private behavior? Is it in your public demeanor? Are your thoughts, emotions and will in conformity to the Word and will of God? Ask the Lord to reveal to the areas of your life in which your pretending is great. Offer your heart to the Lord promptly and sincerely.

Soli deo Gloria!