Hypocrisy is frequently described in the Bible as claiming to be someone or something you are not.
In terms of faith and morals-claiming to be someone you are not is considered hypocrisy in the Bible.
This grievous transgression can potentially cause spiritual blindness and, in the end, divine retribution.
Bible verses about hypocrisy are also for those who declare themselves religious or morally upright yet do not live up to their claims.
What Is The Biblical Meaning Of Hypocrisy?
In the Bible, hypocrisy is a terrible sin that constantly denounces Jesus, and the prophets y swear.
Jesus regularly attacked the religious authorities of his time for their hypocrisy in the New Testament.
He charged them with ignoring the more significant tenets of their faith, such as mercy and justice, and abusing their religious authority to oppress others.
He also cautioned his followers against acting out their beliefs for attention, stating that genuine acts of love and compassion should express true faith.
In his letters to the early Christian communities, the apostle Paul talked extensively against hypocrisy.
He underlined the significance of authenticity and sincerity in faith, admonishing those who pretend to be pious that they will inevitably face God’s judgment.
Bible Verses About Hypocrisy
Numerous scriptures in the Bible discuss the issue of hypocrisy and offer advice on how to avoid it.
These words provide wisdom and knowledge about the nature of hypocrisy and helpful guidance for leading a simple life.
You will find texts from the Old and New Testaments in this collection of Bible verses about the hypocrisy that stresses the significance of honesty and sincerity in one’s faith.
To avoid the temptation to put up a false front to impress others, these passages encourage us to be faithful to God and ourselves.
1 John 4:20 (ESV) – Loving God And Hating A Brother
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Matthew 7:5 (ESV) – Access Your Mistakes First
You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
James 1:26 (ESV) – Bridle Your Tongue
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Matthew 6:1 (ESV) – Beware Of Practicing Righteousness In Front Of People
“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.
Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV) – Do Not Judge
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 15:7-9 (ESV) – Commandments Of Men
You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Romans 2:3 (ESV) – Guilty But Condemning Others
Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?
1 John 2:9 (ESV) – Hatred Brings Darkness
Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.
Luke 12:2 (ESV) – Revealing The Unknown
Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
2 Timothy 3:5 (ESV) – False Appearance Of Godliness
Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Titus 1:16 (ESV) – Denying God Through Sin
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Matthew 7:15 (ESV) – Beware Of False Prophets
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
1 John 2:4 (ESV)
Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
Matthew 6:5 (ESV)
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 23:13 (ESV)
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
Isaiah 29:13 (ESV)
And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
Psalm 101:7 (ESV)
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.
Psalm 55:21 (ESV)
His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
Matthew 22:18 (ESV)
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?
Galatians 6:3 (ESV)
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Mark 7:6 (ESV)
And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
Luke 16:15 (ESV)
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Proverbs 11:9 (ESV)
With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
Luke 12:1 (ESV)
In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 6:46 (ESV)
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Matthew 23:5 (ESV)
They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
Titus 1:16 (ESV)
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Matthew 7:15 (ESV)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
1 John 2:4 (ESV)
Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
Matthew 6:5 (ESV)
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
James 2:14-26 (ESV)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. …
Matthew 6:2 (ESV)
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 23:23 (ESV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Romans 2:1-5 (ESV)
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.
Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Romans 2:1 (ESV)
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
1 Peter 2:1 (ESV)
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
1 Peter 2:16 (ESV)
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
Matthew 23:15 (ESV)
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
Matthew 6:16 (ESV)
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 23:27 (ESV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
Conclusion
The Bible instructs us to live our lives consistent with our ideas and values and be sincere in our words and deeds.
The Bible demonstrates that hypocrisy impedes spiritual development and is a roadblock in our interactions with God and others.
We can only fully develop our faith and mature into the persons God created us to be by being honest with ourselves and God.
Thus, let us try and live honestly and authentically, always attempting to match our deeds to our ideas and principles.
