"The Yeast Beast of Hypocrisy"

by WXAN & KMHM General Manager, Doug Apple

The “Yeast Beast” is out to get you! Actually, that's just a silly nickname for a very real and very dangerous enemy of us all. It lurks about in the shadows of our life, a slow but certain destroyer.

Jesus warned us about the Yeast Beast in Luke 12:1 when He said, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Yes, the real name of this beast is hypocrisy.

What on earth does yeast have to do with being a hypocrite? I think hypocrisy works in our lives the same way yeast works in dough. Its work is slow and unseen…for a while. But as surely as yeast makes bread rise, hypocrisy makes us swell up with pride. 

How much yeast does it take? Not very much. And just a little hypocrisy in your life will germinate until everyone sees its effects clearly.

Big Beast Footprints

The most obvious evidence of hypocrisy shows up when our words don't line up with our actions. Jesus called some people hypocrites who “Praise Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” To be on our guard against the beast of hypocrisy, we must make sure our words line up with our actions.

Little Beast Fingerprints

A less evident form of hypocrisy is when our actions don't line up with our motives. Yes, we may be doing all the right things, but why? For example, Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites, even when their actions were proper. Yes, they fasted and prayed. Yes, they tithed and donated to charity. But they did it in order to be praised for their great spiritual deeds. Their actions were good, but their motives were wrong, and for that Jesus said, “Woe to you Pharisees, you hypocrites…”

C.S.I. Questioning

In general, what are people expecting from Christians? What are they looking for - not finding - then calling us hypocrites? First of all, they are looking for love. The Pharisees gave to the poor, but where was the love? It is hard to call someone a hypocrite when you know they love you.

People also expect Christians to forgive. They think we should be merciful. We should be giving and selfless. But when they see Christians who praise God with their lips, but then lack love, what are they to think? What if we are materialistic? Selfish? Arrogant? Unwilling to give or to help? 

Banish the Beast!

This beast of hypocrisy is no pet. It cannot be tamed. When you see its footprints, or notice its fingerprints in your life, root it out and eliminate it. “Rid yourselves of all…hypocrisy…” (1 Peter 2:1) We do that making sure our words, our actions, and our motives all line up. Anything less, and we are dangerously toying with the “Yeast Beast of Hypocrisy.”