Diagnosing Hypocrisy: Jesus, the Pharisees, and the Roots of Spiritual Abuse (Spiritual Abuse Series)

Sep 14, 2016

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How can we begin to heal from spiritual abuse when the very structures meant to point us to God have been complicit in manipulation, coercion, and hypocrisy? Kicking off a new Luke Series, Mike Erre goes solo to explore Jesus’s prophetic critique of religious authority in Luke 11—and its piercing relevance for today's church. Through Jesus’s first “woe” against the Pharisees, Mike unpacks a powerful lesson: that external religiosity often masks inner moral decay, and that Jesus himself opposed performative faith with a passion.

This episode speaks directly to those frustrated or disillusioned by the church—offering not just empathy, but biblical clarity on why so many have been harmed, and what Jesus really says about it.

Key Takeaways: • Greed and Hypocrisy in High Places – The disconnect between polished external religion and corrupted internal motives. • What “Woe” Really Means – Understanding the prophetic tradition behind Jesus’s pointed “woes” to religious leaders in Luke 11. • Misunderstood Pharisees – Why Jesus’s relationship with Pharisees was more complex than caricature allows, and what modern Christians can learn from their mistakes. • The Paradox of the Outside vs. the Inside – How hyper-focus on rules, tradition, and behavior management misses the point of spiritual transformation. • A Call to Inner Renewal – Jesus invites generosity and humility over conformity and showmanship.

Resources Mentioned: • Luke 11 – Jesus’s “woes” and prophetic critique of religious leadership • Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel – Old Testament foundations for prophetic judgment • Voxology Non-ference – Details Here • Email your questions: hello@voxpodcast.com

Join the conversation as we peel back the masks, wrestle with Jesus’s challenging words, and uncover a more honest, hopeful expression of faith. Subscribe, leave a review, and help us reclaim the mission of Jesus.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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