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Hating Double-mindedness

Jerry Witham
Jul 31, 2008

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For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he (Peter) used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. Galatians 2.12-13

Here in Galatians the scene changes from Jerusalem to Antioch and the mood changes as well among the apostles. Paul and Barnabas enjoyed the fellowship of James, Peter and John in Jerusalem. These church leaders recognized the grace of God in Paul and Barnabas’ life. Now Paul has to call out Peter in public because of his hypocrisy. Peter had earlier received a revelation from God (Acts 10-11) and went from abstaining from fellowship with the uncircumcised (Gentiles) to fellowshipping with them. He would eat with them and enjoy the Lord Supper with them. As these strict church leaders (recovering Pharisees) come to Antioch Peter stops the very thing that had become a habit in his life, which was enjoying fellowship with Christian Gentiles. He lacks courage of his convictions. He fails to apply and live out the very thing he believes and professes. His prejudice causes Barnabas and others to stumble into the same sin.

This is a potluck gathering gone bad. I imagine they skipped desert on this day. This is not a shining moment for Peter, Barnabas and the church. Antioch was the very place where the Gentile mission began. It was where followers of Jesus began to be called Christians (Acts 11.26), as the gospel of grace captured the lives of the uncircumcised. Now the very leaders who God had used to begin this great work are falling back into living according to the Law of Moses. Paul says in closing chapter two that such action nullifies the grace of God and that Christ died needlessly (2.21). This is why Paul must address this. This is also why he must share this with the Galatians. He wants them to see how he has not shrunk back one bit in proclaiming the gospel of grace even when it comes to other apostles of such stature. Paul hates double-mindedness.

Jesus hated it too. In fact, in the gospels he addresses such mask wearing with His disciples and the crowds that would gather. On one occasion He spoke these words: “The scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries (small cases containing Scripture texts worn on the left arm and forehead for religious purposes) and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 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 Rabbi by men (Matthew 23.2-7).

The scribes and Pharisees were public teachers, who sat at the helm of the church government. They were also judges who determined appeals and special verdicts. In their roles they would not do what they taught, but they sure loved to show their authority and flaunt their title. I love what Matthew Henry says, For what greater hypocrisy can there be, than to press that upon others, to be believed and done, which they themselves disbelieve and disobey; pulling down in their practice what they build up in their preaching; when in the pulpit, preaching so well that it is a pity they should ever come out; but, when out of the pulpit, living so ill that it is a pity they should ever come in. It is true that many of good places have been filled with bad men. So, it was with these. That is why Jesus has such strong words of judgment for them. He says to them, But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in (Matthew 23.13). The mere knowledge or teaching of things will not get you into heaven. The Pharisees and scribes had no trust in Jesus. They trusted in their own works to attain a place in the kingdom of God. They taught things that they would not even follow. What they taught not only kept them from heaven, but they were also a barrier for others to enter in to heaven. This is what hypocrisy produces. It produces barriers. That is why Jesus speaks words of judgment to those who live in such a way. Much is on the line. The displaying of God’s glory and the soul of man is at stake.

Let’s be honest. We all struggle with hypocrisy. The question I have been asking myself the last couple of weeks in light of this struggle is, what do we do? I found three answers in the Psalms.

First, we must hate double-mindedness. The Psalmist says, I hate those who are double minded (Psalm 119.113). The Psalmist hates the double-mindedness of others, but within this it is implied that he hates his own double-mindedness as well. We must truly hate hypocrisy knowing that Jesus hates it. Jesus says to the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3.15-16, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot or cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

Second, we must love God’s Word. The Psalmist in the second part of the verse above says, But I love Your law (Psalm 119.113). The Psalmist knows that the Word is never contradicting or double-minded and he compares that to the hypocrisy of others and most likely even his own that he hates. God and His Word are never contradicting. That is why the Psalmist loves the Word. He also loves it because it helps keep him pure. Psalm 119.9 says, How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. He knows that the word is the key to not living a life of duplicity, but instead having a pure heart.

Third, we must be transparent and honest. King David did this. He laid it all out once his sin was exposed. We must be honest before God like he was. We read from Psalm 51.1-8 Sunday David’s confession and desire for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration. If we are not transparent and honest before God about the sin in our life we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1.8). We also make Him a liar and His word is not in us (1 John 1.10). We must live a life of confession before God. When we do He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1.9). Not only are we to be honest before God, but we are to also be before others. James 5.16 says, we are to confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. This exhortation seems to be intended for one struggling with sin to confess and pray with an elder, but even more likely the one struggling to confess and pray with any person they need to be reconciled with. The reason for this is so that the struggling one can be healed. This healing comes from God alone. He restores and reconciles the struggling one with Himself and with others. We do not do this near enough. I pray that we would live transparent and honest lives before each other.