Hypocrisy is a concept addressed in the Bible, referring to the act of professing beliefs or values that are not sincerely held or demonstrated in one’s actions. Throughout the biblical texts, various passages condemn hypocrisy and emphasize the importance of authenticity, integrity, and genuine faith.
The word of God highlights the negative consequences of hypocrisy, emphasizing that it undermines relationships, damages credibility, and hinders spiritual growth. It cautions against the Pharisaic behavior of outwardly appearing righteous while harboring corrupt intentions within. Jesus specifically rebukes the religious leaders of his time for their hypocrisy, calling them “whitewashed tombs” that look beautiful on the outside but are filled with hypocrisy and wickedness on the inside.
The biblical teachings encourage believers to examine their hearts and motives, urging them to align their words and actions with their professed faith. It emphasizes the importance of living a life of consistency and sincerity, reflecting godly virtues such as love, humility, and honesty. True faith is not simply a matter of outward observance but requires a genuine transformation of the inner self.
Judging others hypocritically, reminding individuals to first examine their own lives before pointing out the faults of others. Let us have a look at the following Bible verses that talk about Hypocrisy.
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”
Job 15:34
“For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery”
Titus 1:16
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate”
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”
Job 31:33
“If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom”
Psalm 12:2
“They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak”
1 John 2:9
“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now”
Matthew 15:7
“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying”
Romans 10:3
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God”
1 Peter 1:22
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”
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?”
Galatians 6:3
“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself”
1 Timothy 4:2
“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron”
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”
1 John 2:4
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him”
Matthew 23:27
“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”
Psalm 51:6
“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom”
Matthew 23:5
“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments”
Luke 16:15
“And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God”
1 Kings 18:21
“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word”
John 7:24
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment”
Jeremiah 23:11
“For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord”
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”
1 John 4:20
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”
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”
James 3:17
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy”
Luke 12:2
“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known”
James 1:26
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain”
Job 36:13
“But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them”
Matthew 24:51
“And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”
2 Timothy 3:5
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away”
Psalm 55:21
“The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords”
Isaiah 29:13
“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men”
Mark 7:6
“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”
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”
Matthew 16:3
“And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
Matthew 23:28
“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity”
Romans 2:3
“And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”
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”
James 1:22
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”
Acts 5:5
“And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things”
Philippians 3:9
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”
1 Peter 2:1
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings”
Matthew 22:18
“But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”
Matthew 7:21
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”
Luke 6:46
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Matthew 23:29
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous”
Proverbs 11:9
“An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered”
Matthew 6:1
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven”
Romans 2:1
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things”
Isaiah 29:15
“Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord , and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?”
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
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 go in”
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”
1 Peter 2:16
“As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God”
Luke 12:1
“In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy”
Matthew 7:1
“Judge not, that ye be not judged”
Matthew 15:8
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me”
Job 8:13
“So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish”
Romans 12:9
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good”
