Doctrine of Hypocrisy

1. There are two basic words translated “hypocrite” in the Bible.

 In the Old Testament the Hebrew word is chaneph (khaw-nafe') and means to become
soiled (i.e. with sin), impious.

 In the New Testament the Greek word is hupokrites (hoop-ok-ree-tace') and refers to an
actor under an assumed character such as a stage-player, i.e. figuratively the word has
reference to a dissembler.

Taken together the concept is presented that a hypocrite is someone who has soiled their soul
with sin and, while pretending to be holy and good remain impious in behavior. A hypocrite
may articulate well an orthodox belief but the behavior does not conform to the rhetoric.

2. The hypocrite is a person who appears to be religious but whose heart is really far from God.

 Job 13:16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

3. It is possible for the hypocrite to be recognized—and hated.

 Job 17:8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself
against the hypocrite.

4. While hypocrites rejoice in their willful ways such happiness does not last long.

 Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a
moment?

5. The religious hypocrite has a false hope of being found acceptable in the eyes of God.

 Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh
away his soul?

6. It is not wrong to pray against the hypocrite lest others be led astray.

 Job 34:30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

7. The hypocrite tries to destroy others with his lips but is not always successful.

 Proverbs 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through
knowledge shall the just be delivered.

8. Knowing the hearts of men God hates the hypocrite and in the Day of Judgment will show no
mercy.
  Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume
the tabernacles of bribery.

 Job 36:13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

 Isaiah 9:17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have
mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and
every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is
stretched out still.

 Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.
Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with
everlasting burnings?

9. Religious hypocrites enjoy telling others their faults and how to correct them while doing
nothing about their own personal moral and spiritual failures.

 Matthew 7:5 Thou 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.

 Luke 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that
is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou
hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to
pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

10. Hypocrites are notorious for displaying a moral superiority of “Do as I say and not as I do.”

 Luke 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of
you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

11. Jesus listed and condemned many specific sins of the religious hypocrites of His day
embodied in the Pharisees.

 The religious hypocrite loves to be seen of men in the matter of giving. Matthew 6:2
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

 The religious hypocrite loves to be seen of men in times of prayer. Matthew 6:5 And
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing
in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I
say unto you, They have their reward.
 The religious hypocrite loves to be seen of men in times of fasting. Matthew 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure
their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their
reward.

 The religious hypocrite has a heart that is secretly hostile to God in worship. Matthew
15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh
unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from
me.

 The religious hypocrite has no true understanding of the Bible. Matthew 16:3 And in
the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye
hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the
times?

 The religious hypocrite is willing to use verbal deceit in order to win a religious debate.
Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye
hypocrites?

 The religious hypocrite will keep others from going to heaven if possible. Matthew
23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of
heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are
entering to

 The religious hypocrite is motivated by material gain. Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence
make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

 The religious hypocrite has a zeal to promote false teaching. Matthew 23:15 Woe unto
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one
proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than
yourselves.

 The religious hypocrite places more value on symbols than spiritual substance.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint
and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment,
mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

 The religious hypocrite is externally wholesome but internally corrupt. Matthew 23:25
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.

 The religious hypocrite is able to make a fine presentation of himself outwardly.

 The religious hypocrite shall be assigned a proper place with the wicked. Matthew
24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 The religious hypocrite is capable of hiding his true agenda. Luke 11:44 Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are as graves which appear not, and the men
that walk over them are not aware of them.