When we look at the ministry of Jesus Christ while He was on earth, we see that He did many wonderful things: healing, teaching, preaching, and more. The apostle John even stated at the end of his gospel that we do not have a record of all the things Jesus did because the world wouldn’t be able to contain the books it would take to record them all.

As Jesus would preach and teach, we see that He basically gave the same invitation with each moment: Follow Me. To follow Jesus means that we give Him control of our lives and live according to His leading in all things. While that may seem like an easy task — to follow the One who created us and is all-powerful — we often go our own way instead.

Over the next few weeks, we will examine different aspects of this invitation Jesus continues to give to people to come and follow Him.

‌Hypocrisy

One topic that the Lord addresses over and over in the Scriptures is hypocrisy.

Our English word, hypocrite, is transliterated from the Greek word, hypokrites. It was a term used in Greek theater. It would refer to an actor who wore different masks in the same play so that he could play different roles. In theater, being a hypocrite was a very admirable thing. It showed great talent. In our daily lives, being a hypocrite is not looked upon very well. In our daily lives, we see hypocrisy as “saying one thing and doing the opposite.” It erodes a person’s integrity quicker than anything else can.

When it comes to following Jesus, He does not desire hypocrites. Jesus wants His followers to be genuine and allow the Holy Spirit to work in every aspect of their lives so that they will reflect Jesus to a watching world.

The Bible refers to Jesus’ followers as disciples. A disciple is a student who would come under the teachings of another (master). The goal of a disciple is to become as much like your master as possible.

⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

​Luke 6:40 CSB

One important part of a disciple’s life is worship. While Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman in John 4, He spoke about how God desires and is seeking those who would worship Him in spirit and in truth.

²³ But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him.

John 4:23 CSB

There have been many questions about what it means to worship the Lord “in spirit and in truth.” While we don’t have time today to dive deep into that, I would say that spirit refers not only to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives but also to a genuineness where our hearts are fully engaged and connected with God. Truth refers to the guardrails that the Lord has given to us through His word.

‌Hypocrisy in Worship

Can a person be a hypocrite when it comes to his or her worship? Sadly, the answer to that question is yes. We actually see it happening throughout the Scriptures. One instance is found in Isaiah 58. I would invite you to find that passage in your Bibles as we look at the Lord dealing with hypocrisy in His people’s worship.

‌Good Appearance

¹ “Cry out loudly, don’t hold back! Raise your voice like a trumpet. Tell my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins. ² They seek me day after day and delight to know my ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not abandon the justice of their God. They ask me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”

​Isaiah 58:1-2 CSB

The Lord had Isaiah go to His people with a specific message about their worship. These two verses seem a little strange, almost contradictory. The Lord calls out the transgressions and sins of the people. In verse 2, it looks like they are actually doing pretty good.

• They seek the Lord daily
• They delight to know the Lord’s ways
• They appear to be a nation seeking justice
• ‌They seek the Lord for righteous judgments
• They delight being near the Lord

If you heard this description of a person or group of people, you would probably recognize them as followers of Jesus, right? On the surface, the people seemed to be doing all the right things. As we continue reading the text, we see a problem arises…

³ “Why have we fasted, but you have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!”

Isaiah 58:3a (CSB)

We may be somewhat familiar with fasting. You may have to fast before a medical procedure. You may hear about intermittent fasting for weight control. Fasting is the act of going without something in order to prepare for something else. Fasting can be a form of worship to the Lord. We see different types of fasting throughout the Scriptures. Most of the time, fasting would be going without food for a time to seek the Lord’s direction on a matter or to ask for something.

We are coming up on a time known in the church world as Lent. It is a time of fasting to prepare one’s heart for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not something that is required by Scripture, but it may be a good thing for you to do to prepare your heart.

In Isaiah 58, the people had been fasting to the Lord but felt that He was ignoring them. The people felt that the Lord had ignored them since they were not receiving what they thought they should from their fasting. We would do well to remember this truth: the Lord is not obligated to do what we want. We may jump through every religious hoop there is, but that doesn’t mean that He has to do what we think is right. He is perfect and holy; He has a plan that He is carrying out to perfection. Things like fasting are not about getting the Lord to do what we want but tuning our hearts to His so that we can do what He wants more faithfully.

Reality Check

In the final part of verse 3, the Lord shares why their fasting was not accomplishing what they thought it would:

³ “Why have we fasted, but you have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!” “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers. ⁴ You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today, hoping to make your voice heard on high.

​Isaiah 58:3-4 CSB

The Lord told the people through Isaiah that their lives were in complete contradiction to their religious acts. The Lord points out that the people were oppressing their workers and fighting with one another.

At the end of verse 4, the Lord says the people cannot hope to be heard by Him. In the New Testament, Titus would say it this way:

¹⁶ They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

​Titus 1:16 CSB 

We may think that we are doing well because we are able to check off the religious boxes in our lives (Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, giving, serving, etc).

As the Lord delivers this reality check to His people, He also shares with them what He desires.

⁵ Will the fast I choose be like this: A day for a person to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? ⁶ Isn’t this the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?

​Isaiah 58:5-7 CSB

What the Lord desires from those who follow Him is not mindless obedience. He wants to transform sinful and selfish people into reflections of who He is and the work He can do in a person’s life. It is not just about checking boxes, but it is about being made more like Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives.

Later in the New Testament, James would state it this way:

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

​James 2:15-17 CSB

The Lord is One who invites His followers to come and be made new from the inside out for His glory. As this happens, we reflect His goodness to a watching world that desperately needs Him.

When you think about your worship, what difference is being made? Do you check off the boxes continually but remain the same person that you’ve always been? Are you like the Israelites of Isaiah 58 wondering where God is and why He isn’t doing what you want? It could be that your worship of Him is tinted with a hypocrisy that He cannot listen to. Your life may have a ton of checked boxes, but there is no difference. If this describes you, I would encourage you to listen to the Lord’s reality check here. Begin allowing the Holy Spirit to transform your daily actions and words to reflect what you say you believe.

In verses 8-12, the Lord shares with us what happens when that takes place.

⁸ Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard. ⁹ At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry out, he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you get rid of the yoke among you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking, ¹⁰ and if you offer yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. ¹¹ The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose water never runs dry. ¹² Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live.

​Isaiah 58:8-12 CSB

‌Results of Genuine Worship

• The first thing the Lord says is that your light will shine (v 8, 10)
• Recovery will come quickly (v 8)
• The Lord will protect you (v 8)
• ‌You will know the nearness of Jesus (v 9)
• You will be led and satisfied (v 11)
• You will see restoration (v 12)

‌Conclusion

The Lord is seeking followers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. This means that hypocrisy has no place in our lives. As we do this, we come to know the Lord greater and experience His power in our daily lives. He wants to transform each of His followers’ lives into something that points others to who He is and what He can do in a person’s life.

If you have not made the decision to become a follower of Jesus, I would encourage you to answer the invitation Jesus extends to you today. He says, as He has to so many others, “Follow Me.” You can do that by coming to Him by faith, confessing and turning from your sin to following Him. Receive the forgiveness that He paid for with His sacrifice on the cross. Begin to live a new life reflecting and knowing Him in the power of His resurrection.

May we be followers of Jesus who do so in spirit and in truth… in every aspect of our lives. As we do that, we will see Him do great and mighty things among us.