Feigned Righteousness
by Dan Richardson
“And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor” (Luke 20:20).
To “feign” something means to, “act as if something were true, to make believe that something is the case or that you are doing something by using your imagination or acting skills” (Encarta Dictionary). To feign to be righteous is to pretend oneself to be so when in actuality you are not - to impress people, not God. More so, such pretension has an ulterior motive to seek an advantage for selfish reasons. Its pretense is as an actor/actress playing out a performance, taking the heart right out of Christianity!
On stage and screen, actors/actresses are so skilled in their craft, it becomes difficult to separate the real person from the character they perform. For example, I know there was a man who lived named Don Knotts, and as an actor he played several characters in his career, but he will always be Barney Fife to me (younger people consult parents/grandparents for clarification). Likewise, those who play at being a Christian (instead of actually being one), will fool some of the people and even deceive themselves to believe the lie that they are righteous (cf. II Thessalonians 2:10-12). Though we cannot look within each other’s hearts to detect this sin, we can see the fruits borne from it (Matthew 7:15-19). In this study we will consider some of the fruits in Luke 20:19-26. Feigning righteous is very much alive today. It is the “sheep’s clothing” the wicked wear.
Feigned Righteousness Distorts Truth For Its Own Purposes (verse 20). The spies attempted to twist the words of God’s Son to entrap Him in speech and deliver Him before the governor. They are following the tactics of their father, the devil. When tempting Jesus, the evil one manipulated scripture to his advantage, excising a portion of Psalm 91 from its context. However, the Lord responded, “… it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God” (verse 7). All servants of Satan, then and now, imitate the desires and methods of their master (John 8:44; cf. II Peter 3:16).
Feigned Righteousness Flatters (verse 21). To flatter means, “To compliment someone to win favor; to compliment somebody too much, often without sincerity, especially in order to gain an advantage” (Encarta English Dictionary). The evil of flattery is realized in observing it is a “tool of the trade” for prostitutes (Proverbs 6:24). Yet, just as contemptible, if not more so, are those who put a religious face on this sin. Flattery was the first ploy of the deceivers before Jesus, “… Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God” (verse 21). While it may be observed their words acknowledged the reality of divine truth and pure motives, in truth they had no love for either.
Feigned Righteousness Appeals To Extremism (verses 22-25). “Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar or not?” On the surface it may sound like a good question, but Jesus perceived their “craftiness” (verse 23). Its design was to entrap Jesus, an “either / or” question, which when answered, would incur the wrath of the Jews or Romans. For Jesus to answer “Caesar” would have made Him a traitor to the Jews, being subject to their judiciary. If He didn’t choose Caesar, He could be counted as rebelling against Roman rule and arrested. Using a coin to illustrate, Jesus responded, “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (verse 25). The spies were amazed and dumb-founded by the Lord’s answer.
The spies’ either/or question was so crafted to force Jesus to choose between the two human extremes they offered (Caesar or no Caesar). Nevertheless, Jesus spoke truth, demonstrating that it often lies between man’s supposed extremes. In our time, extremism accounts for much error and confusion, especially in religion. Like a pendulum, people swing by their choices to one extreme or the other, with no happy medium in between. A present day example is the presence of Catholicism and Protestantism, which is how many in the western world, would sum up modern religion. Catholicism is a religion which basically teaches salvation by works only. Protestantism (named for they who “protest” of the tenets of Catholicism), generally teaches the opposite extreme of salvation by faith only. Nevertheless, contrary of both extremes, is the teaching of the Bible, God’s word, specifically the New Testament (the new covenant of Jesus Christ). Sinners are not saved by works only (Romans 4:4; Ephesians 2:9; Galatians 2:16), nor by faith only (John 9:4; Acts 10:35; James 2:24 - incidentally, here is the only time “faith only” is mentioned in the Bible, and it is condemned!) One’s faith isn’t much without the willingness to obey the God whom you profess to trust.
[NOTE: Dan Richardson is one of three preachers that we help support. Their reports are posted on the bulletin board. In the article Dan discusses “Feigned Righteousness.” There is another very strong word in the Bible describing this practice, “hypocrisy.” It is defined as, “Pretending to be what you are not, or pretending to believe something that you do not” (Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press). The Pharisees were repeatedly condemned by the Lord for this sin. Let us be careful to practice what we preach. mg]