
Hypocrisy is a sin in many religions, including Christianity. The Bible calls hypocrisy a sin, and Jesus is said to have denounced those guilty of religious hypocrisy. The word hypocrisy comes from the Greek word for actor, meaning one who wears a mask, or someone pretending to be what they are not. The Bible identifies hypocrisy as blasphemy, wickedness, a lie unto God, and a double-minded man.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Definition | "Acting in a different manner than what is claimed to be believed" |
Biblical References | Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 7:3-5, Matthew 15:8-9, Luke 3:8, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:33, 1 John 2:9, Romans 12:9, Matthew 23:5, 2 Corinthians 3:8, Matthew 7:3-5, Romans 2:1, Acts 26:5, Matthew 23:5-7, Luke 18:11, Matthew 23:23 |
Forms | "Professing belief in something and then acting in a manner contrary to that belief" and "Looking down on others when we ourselves are flawed" |
Jesus' Views | Jesus denounced hypocrisy and called hypocrites "wolves in sheep's clothing", "whitewashed tombs", "snakes", and a "brood of vipers" |
Nature | The gap between public persona and private character |
Seriousness | A dangerous and deadly sin |
Subjects | Affects both men and women |
Motivation | Self-love |
Focus | Group dynamics, not personal reality with God |
What You'll Learn
The Bible calls hypocrisy a sin
The Bible does indeed call hypocrisy a sin. The word "hypocrisy" comes from the Greek word for "actor", meaning "one who wears a mask", or pretends to be something they are not. There are two types of hypocrisy: professing belief in something and then acting in a contrary manner, and looking down on others despite having flaws oneself.
The Bible contains several instances of hypocrisy being condemned. The prophet Isaiah denounced the hypocrisy of his time, saying, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men" (Isaiah 29:13). Jesus also quoted this verse, criticising the religious leaders of his day (Matthew 15:8-9). John the Baptist told hypocrites to produce "fruits worthy of repentance" (Luke 3:8). Jesus called hypocrites "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15), emphasising that true righteousness comes from inner transformation, not external conformity (Matthew 23:5; 2 Corinthians 3:8).
Jesus further addressed hypocrisy in the Sermon on the Mount, instructing people to address their own shortcomings before criticising others (Matthew 7:3-5). He denounced the Pharisees, who were zealous about following the letter of the Law but lacked compassion and were overly demonstrative of their spirituality (Matthew 23:5-7; Luke 18:11). Jesus made it clear that the issue was not with the Law itself, but with the Pharisees' implementation of it (Matthew 23:2-3).
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 4-5 also serves as a warning against the sin of hypocrisy. This couple, who were part of the early church, conspired to deceive the apostles and the church by pretending to give a higher amount of money than they actually had. Their sudden deaths serve as a reminder of the seriousness of hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is considered a dangerous and deadly sin, as it can cause others to disregard the claims of Christ and stumble in their faith. It is important for Christians to strive for holiness and to be consistent in their beliefs and actions.
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Hypocrisy is the failure to practice what you preach
Hypocrisy is a sin. The Bible calls hypocrisy a sin, and Jesus had strong words for hypocrites, calling them "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15). The Greek root of the word means "actor", or "one who wears a mask", and this is a good description of a hypocrite—someone who pretends to be what they are not.
The sin of hypocrisy is not that we are more flawed than we seem. We are all flawed. The sin is in using the appearance of goodness to hide evil deeds. It is about caring more about what others think of you than what God knows you to be.
The Bible gives examples of hypocrisy, and Jesus often denounced the religious leaders of his day as hypocrites. For instance, in Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus says:
> "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, then the outside will be clean too."
Here, Jesus is criticising the Pharisees for being overly concerned with external appearances, while their hearts are far from God. This is a key aspect of hypocrisy—it is about having a righteous external appearance, while lacking inner holiness.
In conclusion, hypocrisy is a serious sin, and it is dangerous because it can lead others to disregard the claims of Christ and the church. It is important to strive for genuine righteousness, which comes from an inner transformation by the Holy Spirit, rather than merely conforming to external rules.
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Jesus denounced hypocrisy
The Bible calls hypocrisy a sin. It refers to the act of claiming to believe something but acting in a different manner. The word "hypocrite" comes from the Greek word for "play actor" or "one who wears a mask", implying someone who pretends to be what they are not.
Jesus called hypocrites "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15), "whitewashed tombs" (Matthew 23:27), and a "brood of vipers" (Matthew 23:33). He also addressed the issue of hypocrisy in the Sermon on the Mount, telling his followers not to be so prideful and convinced of their goodness that they criticise others from a position of self-righteousness (Matthew 7:3-5).
Jesus criticised the Pharisees for adhering to the letter of the Law while actively seeking loopholes to violate its spirit. He pointed out that "justice, mercy, and faithfulness" are more important than pursuing a perfection based on faulty standards (Matthew 23:23). He made it clear that the problem was not with the Law itself but with the way the Pharisees implemented it (Matthew 23:2-3).
Jesus' strong stance against hypocrisy is a reminder that true righteousness comes from an inner transformation through the Holy Spirit, not external conformity to a set of rules (Matthew 23:5; 2 Corinthians 3:8).
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Hypocrisy is not the gap between doing and feeling
The Bible calls hypocrisy a sin. It refers to the act of claiming to believe in something but acting in a manner contrary to that belief. However, it is important to note that hypocrisy is not the same as the gap between doing and feeling. Rather, it is defined as the gap between one's public persona and private character.
Hypocrisy is often associated with a failure to practice what one preaches. For instance, a person who uses their public virtue to conceal their private vices. This could be someone who lives a double life, fooling their friends by attending church but engaging in immoral behaviour during the rest of the week.
The sin of hypocrisy lies not in being more flawed than one appears, but in using the appearance of goodness to disguise evil deeds. It is the belief that the perception of others is more important than one's true nature in the eyes of God.
Jesus often denounced hypocrisy, particularly among religious leaders. He referred to hypocrites as "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15) and "whitewashed tombs" (Matthew 23:27). He also addressed the issue of self-righteousness, where one criticizes others from a position of pride without first addressing their own shortcomings (Matthew 7:3-5).
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in the Bible serves as a warning against the dangers of hypocrisy. They were struck dead by God for conspiring to deceive the apostles and the church, highlighting the seriousness with which hypocrisy is viewed.
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Hypocrisy is a dangerous and deadly sin
The Bible calls hypocrisy a sin, and Jesus himself took a strong stand against it. He did not tolerate hypocrisy, especially among religious leaders, and used scathing language to denounce those guilty of it. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the issue of hypocrisy, instructing his followers to remove the "plank" from their own eye before attempting to remove the "speck" from their brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5). He also warned his disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1), highlighting that hypocrisy starts small but can quickly spread and contaminate many.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 4 and 5 illustrates the danger and deadly nature of hypocrisy. This couple, who were part of the early church, conspired to deceive the apostles and the church by pretending to give the entire amount from the sale of their property while keeping a portion for themselves. Their intent was to make others think they were more spiritual than they actually were. As a result of their hypocrisy, God struck them dead. While some may question the severity of their punishment, it serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness with which God views this sin.
Hypocrisy is a sin that can affect anyone, regardless of gender or position. It is a sin of selfishness, motivated by self-love and the desire to impress others. It is short-sighted, focusing on group dynamics and the approval of people rather than on personal reality with God and His approval. The hypocrite becomes more concerned with maintaining a certain image than with living a life that pleases God.
To combat hypocrisy, one must pursue godly character. This includes growing in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and faith, the ministry of encouragement and generosity, and integrity. By maintaining a daily walk with God, we can ensure that our actions and character are aligned and avoid the deadly sin of hypocrisy.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Bible calls hypocrisy a sin. It is defined as the failure to practice what you preach.
The Bible warns about the danger of the sin of hypocrisy. Jesus denounced hypocrites as "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15) and took a stand against sanctimony.
The word hypocrisy is derived from the Greek term for "actor", meaning "one who wears a mask", or someone pretending to be what they are not.