Avoiding Hypocrisy

In this part of the sermon: The sermon introduces the concept of the 'overall spiritual and emotional climate of the home' as a crucial factor in child nurture. Martin uses the analogy of unseen radon and…

Martin uses the analogy of unseen but deadly radon gas and asbestos particles circulating in a physically appealing home to illustrate how unmortified sins in parents create a toxic spiritual and emotional climate that imperceptibly but really harms children's souls, leading to spiritual 'cancer'.

of what provokes the spanking and how much spanking is given, but if it is not in a proper emotional and spiritual climate, it can neutralize the sanctifying influence of the rod. And likewise with reference to admonition. Let me put it this way as I was seeking to illustrate it. You see, there might be a home that in terms of its overall physical appearance speaks of order, of warmth, of livableness, but a climate in the external appearance, everything about it saying this is a place where children could be nurtured with delight and with comfort and effectiveness. However, suppose the parents...

14:30 - 15:54 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third characteristic of hypocrisy is the perversion and distortion of relative biblical values, illustrated by tithing mint while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith. Martin…

To illustrate the meticulous tithing of 'mint and anise and cummin,' Martin creates a vivid, humorous image of 'Mrs. Finkelstein' weighing tiny amounts of herbs to ensure a full tithe, highlighting the Pharisees' focus on minute external observances.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummer. You went over to your friend's house for a meal, and instead of bringing some after-eat dinner mints or bringing a box of chocolates, you brought him a little bag of slices that you grew in the backyard. And you wrapped them up in a very nice package, and it just was a lovely expression.

32:01 - 32:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third characteristic of hypocrisy is the perversion and distortion of relative biblical values, illustrated by tithing mint while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith. Martin…

Martin provides a detailed, grotesque explanation of the Jewish practice of filtering wine to remove gnats, then contrasts it with the absurd image of a person swallowing a whole camel. This illustrates the Pharisees' (and hypocritical parents') perversion of values, meticulously avoiding minor transgressions while ignoring major moral duties.

Because he uses a grotesque illustration. If you were in Palestine and you were drinking wine, it first became wine when the grapes were poured into an open stone of the size of these little...

34:06 - 34:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Administer punishment only after doing all you can to ensure it is just punishment, even if it takes hours to thrash out an issue.

Martin shares a personal anecdote from his upbringing in a family of ten children, describing the challenges of administering justice in a busy household. He uses this to emphasize that prioritizing justice in resolving children's disputes is more important than strict adherence to schedules like meal times, even if it requires significant effort.

But you will not administer punishment until you've done all you can to make sure it's just punishment. My friends, listen. I was reared in a family of ten kids, second oldest. I grew up changing diapers and washing dishes and scrubbing floors and seeing my mother use the old Maytag having to scrub them in one load and put them in the old soap tub and let them soak and then run them through the wringer.

43:04 - 43:32 Read in full sermon