When you read the Bible, you will notice that hypocrite is often mentioned. Especially in the New Testament, Christ often uses this word with the Pharisees.
The Bible is filled with many warnings and examples of hypocritical behavior. A hypocrite can be defined as someone who professes beliefs and opinions they do not hold in practice, pretending to be religious or that religion is essential when it is not.
Table of Contents
- Explaining What Hypocrite Means In The Bible
- Christ And The Pharisee And The Word Hypocrite
- Related Content
Explaining What Hypocrite Means In The Bible
The Bible is filled with stories and warnings about hypocrites and that we should not be hypocrites. That is because a hypocrite is someone pretending to be something they are not.
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23, Jesus speaks out against the scribes and Pharisees. He speaks of their hypocrisies regarding “whitewashed tombs,” which were beautiful on the outside but, on the inside, were filled with dead men’s bones and everything impure.
This metaphor illustrates how those who profess one thing but act differently are the same as a tomb that looks beautiful on the outside, but within are full of rot and death.
In Matthew 6:2, Jesus speaks out against hypocrites who pray to be seen by people, “when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.” Jesus calls out those who use prayer to bring glory to themselves rather than for true devotion and worship of God.
In Luke 12:1-3, Jesus talks about hypocritical behavior in terms of judging, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up or hidden that will not be revealed or kept secret that will not become known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.” Here Jesus is warning us to beware of hypocritical behavior as it will ultimately be revealed.
In Luke 6:42, Jesus speaks out against hypocrisy in giving, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you fail to see the plank in your eye? You are a hypocrite! First, remove the plank from your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” By telling this parable, Jesus encourages us to focus on our hypocrisies before taking notice of others.
Christ And The Pharisee And The Word Hypocrite
The one group in the Bible that Christ continually called hypocrites was the Pharisees. He was not picking on this group but had specific reasons why Christ called them hypocrites.
Jesus saw the Pharisees as religious leaders who placed undue emphasis on observing the letter of the law rather than its spirit. They were known to be strict and uncompromising in their interpretation of Jewish laws and traditions but often neglected the deeper moral and ethical principles behind them.
That is why in the Bible, you see that Christ often talks about the Pharisees and the word hypocrite.
Jesus accused the Pharisees of being hypocrites because they preached one thing but practiced another. He criticized them for their love of attention and recognition, greed and love of money, and pride and arrogance.
In Matthew 23:25-27 Christ says this about the Pharisees and scribes:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
King James Version of Bible – Matthew 23: 25-27
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Jesus clearly warns the Pharisees against their preoccupation with external appearances and rituals. He tells them that true righteousness and purity come from the heart and that outward cleanliness is meaningless if the inside is corrupt.
Jesus’ use of the word “hypocrite” to describe the Pharisees was a scathing rebuke to expose their hypocrisy and call them to true repentance. He saw them as religious leaders who had lost sight of their faith’s deeper moral and ethical principles and were more concerned with outward appearances and maintaining their power and influence.
Jesus’ words serve as a warning to all who would seek to follow him, reminding us that true righteousness and purity come from the heart and that we must guard against the temptation to put on a false appearance of righteousness while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness,
Jesus saw the Pharisees as religious leaders who placed undue emphasis on observing the letter of the law rather than its spirit. They were known to be strict and uncompromising in their interpretation of Jewish laws and traditions but often neglected the deeper moral and ethical principles behind them.
Jesus accused the Pharisees of being hypocrites because they preached one thing but practiced another. He criticized them for their love of attention and recognition, greed and love of money, and pride and arrogance.
Jesus’ use of the word “hypocrite” to describe the Pharisees was a scathing rebuke to expose their hypocrisy and call them to true repentance. He saw them as religious leaders who had lost sight of their faith’s more profound moral and ethical principles and were more concerned with outward appearances and maintaining their power and influence.
Jesus’ words serve as a warning to all who would seek to follow him, reminding us that true righteousness and purity come from the heart and that we must guard against the temptation to put on a false appearance of righteousness while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Hypocrite behavior goes against God’s teachings, and many examples throughout the Bible speak out against hypocritical behavior. Jesus warns us to beware of hypocritical behavior and encourages us to focus on our hypocrisies before focusing on others.
He also warns us that hypocrisies, no matter how well hidden, will eventually be revealed. Therefore it is best to live a life of integrity rather than deception.
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