Religion Without Relationship - Life Lessons From CaiaphasSample

Caiaphas was a hypocrite

The dictionary meaning of a hypocrite is “someone who says they have particular moral beliefs but behaves in a way that shows they are not sincere".

Caiaphas was a manipulator, an opportunist, who did not know the meaning of fairness or justice. He did not shrink from shedding innocent blood. He made what he did look as if it were the one thing needful for the welfare of the people. In order to effect the condemnation of Jesus, who had aroused his envy (Matt. 27:18), he used ways that were the product of clever calculation.

A little over a week later after they had decided to put Jesus to death, Caiaphas sent some of the Temple guards to arrest Jesus while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Those guards took Him to Caiaphas, who said to Him, “Tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63). When Jesus answered in the affirmative, the Bible tells us “Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” (Matthew 26:65-68).

The High Priest did not have the authority to execute people. Therefore Caiaphas dragged Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, and called for the Romans to crucify Him.

Caiaphas was a hypocrite, for in the final trial, when he was filled with inner glee because he had found what he considered a ground for Christ’s condemnation, he tore his priestly robe as if overcome by profound sorrow! 

There is an important truth in the incident of Caiaphas rending his garments. The High Priest was forbidden from doing this under the Law, Lev. 21:10. For a High Priest to rend His garments was to disqualify himself from his office! The pretender high priest disqualified himself before the TRUE High Priest! The inferior was stepping down in the presence of the Superior! Jesus was on the way to the cross to abolish the old Jewish sacrificial system forever. Caiaphas didn't realize the significance of what he was doing, but he was the last High Priest of the end of the sacrificial system; he was merely abolishing the role of the human priest forever! 

Jesus’ death on the cross has made the way open for a person to come before God. We do not have to hide ourselves in His presence. He knows us through and through. We cannot be a hypocrite in His presence.

God knows you thoroughly. Don’t be a hypocrite. Come before Him in submission, acknowledging you need Him and find His cleansing and power.

Quote

"We have all felt the brazenness of words without emotion, the hollowness, the unaccountable unpersuasiveness of eloquence behind which lies no love." - Henry Drummond

Prayer

Search me O God and know my heart, see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me to the way everlasting. Amen