Pharisees Are Liars and Murderers
We must hate lying as much as we hate murder and get rid of all 'murderers' from the church by protecting our brothers' and sisters' reputations.
Zac Poonen preaches about the dangers of murder and lying, drawing parallels between the Pharisees' murderous desires and the modern-day tendency to destroy reputations with words. He emphasizes the importance of protecting others' reputations as we would our own family members, urging believers to eliminate 'murderers' from the church. Poonen also highlights how backsliding believers often resort to lying, likening it to giving one's heart to the devil, the father of lies, and stressing the need to hate lying as much as we hate murder.
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Jesus said, "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44).
The Pharisees had a murderous desire towards the woman caught in adultery. But today's Pharisees have become more civilised and murder people only with their tongues.
Have you murdered anyone's reputation by spreading evil stories about him - even if the stories were true? When Satan accuses believers to God, he never tells any lies to God. He speaks the truth, because he knows that he can't tell lies to God. He tells God the truth about your sins, but in a spirit of accusation. In the same way, it is possible to tell true stories about a believer with the spirit of the accuser in order to destroy his reputation. None of you would spread such tales about your own children. If your daughter fell into adultery, would you tell everybody in your church about it, or would you try your best to cover it up? Many of your sons and daughters have done foolish things in the past. But you parents have lovingly covered them up and protected their reputations. Why don't you do the same when it concerns another brother's son or daughter? We must get rid of all "murderers" from the church.
Pharisees are also liars. I have observed one thing again and again through all these years: Whenever a believer backslides, he begins to tell lies immediately. It is almost as though Satan takes over his heart and tongue immediately. They will sugar-coat their lies and pretend as if they are being honest. They will beat around the bush and talk about everything except the truth. They will not look you straight in the face when they speak. The devil is the father of lies. But he needs a mother to produce those lies through. And it is only when you give your heart to the devil that he is able to produce a lie through you. Peter asked Ananias, "Why has Satan filled your heart to tell a lie" (Acts 5:3). A preacher who tells a lie has given his tongue to Satan at that moment. He cannot then expect God to use his tongue and anoint Him to preach, until he confesses his sin and repents and forsakes that habit.
We must hate lying as much as we hate murder.
Sermon Outline
- I. Pharisees Are Murderers
- A. They destroy people's reputations with their words
- B. They are just as guilty as those who physically harm others
- II. We Must Get Rid of Murderers from the Church
- A. We must protect our brothers' and sisters' reputations
- B. We must not spread evil stories about them
- III. Pharisees Are Liars
- A. They tell lies to cover up their own sin
- B. They pretend to be honest while speaking deceitfully
- IV. We Must Hate Lying as Much as We Hate Murder
- A. Lying is a sin that can lead to spiritual death
- B. We must confess and repent of our lying habits
Key Quotes
“Whenever a believer backslides, he begins to tell lies immediately.” — Zac Poonen
“The devil is the father of lies. But he needs a mother to produce those lies through. And it is only when you give your heart to the devil that he is able to produce a lie through you.” — Zac Poonen
“We must hate lying as much as we hate murder.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- We must be careful not to destroy others' reputations with our words, even if we are telling the truth.
- We must hate lying as much as we hate murder and seek to speak the truth in love.
- We must confess and repent of our lying habits and seek to overcome them.