We have all been there. It is Sunday morning in St. Louis, and the car ride to church has been nothing short of a battlefield. There were arguments over lost shoes, spilled cereal on the upholstery, and a tense silence that lasted from the driveway to the parking lot. Yet, the moment we step through the church doors, a transformation occurs. We straighten our ties, smooth our dresses, and put on a “blessed” smile. When someone asks how we are doing, the rehearsed answer is always the same: “Doing great, just thankful to be here.” We often do this because we believe authentic faith is about perfection, but in that moment, we aren’t just churchgoers. We are Oscar-level performers.
In that moment, we aren’t just churchgoers. We are Oscar-level performers.
As we continue our Bible study series on being authentic in ministry, we have to look at the tension between the mask and the mirror. Many of us feel that to be an authentic follower, we must present a finished product to the world. We think that transparency is a liability and that our effectiveness for the Kingdom depends on our ability to look like we have it all together. But following Jesus requires something different. In Matthew 23, Jesus suggests that He isn’t looking for a polished performance, He is looking for a person who has stepped off the stage and into His grace.
The Stage: Symbols Without Substance
In Matthew 23:1-12 (NASB1995), Jesus addresses the religious leaders of His day with a startling critique. He notes that they “broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.” To understand this, we have to look at the “why” behind the wardrobe in our online Bible study.
God originally commanded the Israelites to wear these symbols as personal reminders. In Exodus 13:9 (NASB1995), the Law was to be “as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead.” Similarly, the tassels mentioned in Numbers 15:38-40 (NASB1995) were meant to help them “remember all the commandments of the Lord.”
These were tools for remembrance, not recognition. However, the Pharisees took what was meant for private devotion and turned it into public theater. They were essentially the first “influencers,” curating their spiritual image so that people would stop and stare.
When we talk about being an authentic follower, we have to ask ourselves: Are my spiritual disciplines for Him or for them? If our prayer life only exists when others are listening, or if our personal Bible study is only a search for tools that help you go deeper to impress others, we have turned a tool of remembrance into a tassel of recognition. We have traded the mirror of the Word for the mask of the actor.
The Actor and the Icon
The word “hypocrite” that Jesus uses throughout this chapter carries a specific meaning. In the ancient Greek theater, a hypokritēs was a stage actor. These performers would hold up large masks to represent different emotions or characters. They were literally “speaking from under a mask.”
Think of it this way: In front of the crowd, you might be Malcolm X. You have the posture, the passion, and the power. But in reality, you are Denzel Washington. You are a person playing a role. The performance might be brilliant, but it isn’t you. Authentic faith cannot be produced on a stage, but authentic faith is cultivated in the secret place.
In ministry, this is a dangerous game. Whether we are serving in the Men’s Huddle or the WBF Women’s Ministry, we often feel that God needs the “icon” version of us to be effective. We think we have to be the unflappable leader or the perfect parent. But following Jesus does not require a “Malcolm X” performance. He wants the real you. An authentic follower understands that transparency isn’t a sign of weakness; it is the prerequisite for God’s power. This is the core of authenticity in ministry: living what we preach right here in St. Louis.
The Conflict: Authentic Faith vs. Straining Gnats
Jesus continues His critique in Matthew 23:23-24 (NASB1995), calling out the religious leaders for their obsession with the “minutiae” of religion while ignoring the “weightier provisions” of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
This was a direct callback to the heart of the Prophets. Micah 6:8 (NASB1995) asks, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Similarly, Hosea 6:6 (NASB1995) reminds us that God delights in loyalty rather than sacrifice.
The Pharisees were experts at the checklist. They would tithe even the smallest herbs in their garden, yet they would walk past a neighbor in need without a second thought. Jesus famously describes this as “straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel.”
For us in the St. Louis area, this might look like arguing over the style of music in a service or the specific wording of a church policy while ignoring the systemic needs of our community. Whether you are participating in an online Bible study in St. Louis or gathering in person, we must align our priorities with God’s heart. Character will always be more important than the checklist.
The Core: Cleaning the Inside of the Cup
Perhaps the most piercing imagery Jesus uses is that of the cup and the tomb. In Matthew 23:25-28 (NASB1995), He notes that people clean the outside of the cup while the inside is full of “robbery and self-indulgence.” He compares them to whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but are full of “dead men’s bones.”
In the Jewish law, touching a grave made a person “unclean” (Numbers 19:11-16 (NASB1995)). Tombs were whitewashed so that people wouldn’t accidentally touch them and become disqualified from worship. Jesus’ point is biting: The very thing you are doing to look “holy” is actually a warning sign that you are spiritually dead inside.
We spend so much energy polishing the porcelain of our reputation. We want to be seen as the person who has it all together. But 1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB1995) tells us plainly that while man looks at the outward appearance, “the Lord looks at the heart.”
An authentic follower is someone who is more concerned with the abiding life than their public “image.” They are the ones praying the prayer of Psalm 51:10 (NASB1995): “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
The Heart: From Rebukes to Refuge
Jesus concludes this chapter with a history lesson and a lament. He mentions the righteous blood shed from Abel to Zechariah (Matthew 23:35 (NASB1995)), highlighting that the “performers” of history have often silenced the “truth-tellers.”
But notice how the tone shifts. After all the “woes” and the sharp rebukes, Jesus doesn’t walk away in anger. He weeps. He expresses a desire to gather the people together “the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” This is the beautiful imagery found in Psalm 91:4 (NASB1995): “He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge.”
If you have been exhausted by the pressure to perform, hear this: Jesus isn’t exposing you to shame you. He is exposing the mask so that you can finally find the refuge of His grace. Following Jesus means trading the exhaustion of play-acting for the safety of His mercy. This is the foundation of authentic faith and the kind of authentic churchwe want to be.
God needs you to be authentic and transparent in order to be effective in His Kingdom. The world isn’t looking for more “actors.” They are looking for a community that has found a refuge under the wings of a Savior.This week, I challenge you to look in the mirror. Where have you been performing? Take that area to the Lord in honesty. Stop the play-acting, put down the mask, and find your rest in Him. You don’t have to be an icon to be an authentic follower. You just have to be real.
