Another way to define hypocrisy is saying one thing but doing another. The Bible says that God knows the thoughts of our hearts (Psalm 139), so if you say one thing and do another then God will know about it! He sees everything we do even if nobody else does!
But whatever they do, they will never escape the judgment of God; because the things they have done are evil (1 John 3:20). You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love
“Hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5
- “Hypocrisy is a species of evil peculiarly adapted to the world; it requires no exertion to give it effect, but only the exhibition of some specious pretension.”
- “A hypocrite’s shamelessness is just as good as his faith.”
- “The hypocrite appears on the stage of life with a smiling countenance, and tells us that all he knows is peace and joy.”
- “A hypocrite is one who wears a mask.”
- “A hypocrite is one who wears a mask so well that he deceives even himself.”
- “Hypocrisy is the homage which vice pays to virtue.”
- Matthew 6:1-2 (NIV): “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ‘Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.'”
- Matthew 7:5-6 (NIV): “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”
- 1 John 2:4-5 (NIV): “The one who says ‘I know him’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.”
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3-4)
“I have come to the conclusion that the best thing to do is to trust no one and be content with your own company.”
–Michel de Montaigne, French philosopher
Here are some Bible verses about hypocrites, in case you need them:
Matthew 7:5: “You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Luke 12:1-3: “At that time Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Do not worry about how or what you will speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you. He who speaks with a loud voice is not heard by those who are at a distance in consequence of their weakness; but he who speaks with a gentle voice is heard by those who are near and at hand.”
1 Corinthians 4:8: “Now I am concerned about you, not to cause any one of you to stumble and fall away from the Lord’s faith.”
The Bible is full of verses about hypocrites. Here are a few:
Matthew 6:2: When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 23:27-28: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (NIV)
Luke 16:14-15: “The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal sick people.” (NIV)
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV / 1 Timothy 4:2 ESV / Galatians 2:4-5 ESV / Matthew 7:1-5 ESV
God is not a God of disorder but of peace. Therefore, as we live in a crooked and depraved generation, let us behave morally and godly in our conduct. We must not use immoral language, nor should we lie or cheat others. But let our ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and our ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For anyone who loves the world is far from God; since God’s wisdom, knowledge, and holiness are seen in what has been made. For by these he created the world, which is so beautiful. The people who belong to this world don’t understand how they should worship the one who made them—as if they were unwise or children! But whenever someone comes to God in prayer, it is right for him to believe that he will receive what he asks for from God.
Hypocrite: the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform; an actor who plays a part, often pretending to be different than he or she really is.
Psalm 14:1
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.”
Isaiah 29:13
“This people draws near with their mouth and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV / Titus 1:16 ESV / Romans 16:18 ESV / 1 Corinthians 4:10 ESV / Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 ESV
1 Corinthians 5:11-12 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
What god say about hypocrites
The Bible says that the Lord hates “the hypocrite.”
A hypocrite is someone who says one thing and does another. When we talk about a hypocrite, we’re usually talking about someone who pretends to be something they are not. They might say they’re a Christian, but then live like an unbeliever. For example, someone who claims to be a faithful follower of Christ could also be known for his or her gossiping, sexual immorality, and greed.
In the Bible, hypocrisy is often associated with those who worship in the temple but do not obey God’s commands there (Isaiah 1:10-17; 58:1-2).
Psalm 26:4 says, “One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” Psalm 141:3 says, “Set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 12:2 says, “He who utters slander is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18 says, “He who conceals hatred has lying lips,” while Proverbs 29:24 reads, “The fear of man leads to
“Hypocrites!”
Jesus said to them, “If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves; if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will set before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you; but that which issues from your mouth – it is that which will defile you.” (Matthew 12:36-34)
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16)
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'” (Matthew 15:7-9)
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
New International Version (NIV) 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
“You are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matthew 23:27-28
And when Jesus had finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching because he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:28-29
1 Peter 2:1-22
- Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3. if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
- As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5. you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6. For it stands in scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make men stumble; and a rock that will make them fall; for whoever believes in him shall not be put to shame.” 7. To you therefore who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,” 8. And “A stone which makes men stumble,” they trip over it; for it falls out from its place if someone does not believe in it. 9. And “A rock which makes them fall” they stumble over when they