Dear friends, brothers, and sisters, we gather today to shine light on a matter close to the heart of divine teaching: the consequences of hypocrisy. Many times, we put on a facade, pretending to be something we are not, assuming that it will elevate our status in society or even in the eyes of God. However, we must remember that God sees beyond our exterior; He discerns the true state of our hearts.
When you claim to be devout but engage in deceitful practices, you sow seeds of dishonesty that will eventually bear the fruit of spiritual decay. The essence of our faith is undermined when we claim to follow God’s commandments but secretly engage in acts that defy His laws. This kind of duality separates us from the spiritual wholeness that comes from an honest relationship with God.
In the scriptures, we read about the Pharisees, who were respected in their community but held a dark secret in their hearts. They were more concerned with their public image than their private relationship with God. In the end, they were exposed, and their hypocrisy led to their spiritual downfall.
Just as a house built on a shaky foundation will eventually collapse, so too will a faith built on hypocrisy. When the trials and tribulations of life come our way, our faith will be tested, and any falseness will crumble under the weight of God’s truth.
Dear friends, now let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about “Consequences Of Hypocrisy.”
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 23:15
“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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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?”
Romans 12:9
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good”
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”
1 Peter 2:1
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings”
Proverbs 26:24-26
“He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation”
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”
Isaiah 32:6
“For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord , to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail”
Jeremiah 42:20
“For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the Lord your God, saying, Pray for us unto the Lord our God; and according unto all that the Lord our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it”
Job 8:13
“So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish”
Job 15:34
“For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery”
Job 20:5
“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?”
Job 27:8
“For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?”
Job 31:5
“If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit”
Job 36:13
“But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them”
Psalm 12:2
“They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak”
Psalm 26:4
“I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers”
Psalm 28:3
“Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts”
Psalm 50:16-21
“But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes”
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”
Psalm 78:36-37
“Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant”
Psalm 101:7
“He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight”
Psalm 119:29
“Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously”
Hosea 4:2
“By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood”
What Jesus teaches about hypocrisy?
Jesus had strong words for hypocrites throughout His ministry, especially for those among the religious elite. Here’s an overview of His teachings on hypocrisy:
- Woe to the Hypocrites: In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23, Jesus condemns the religious leaders of the time for their hypocrisy. He repeatedly says, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” He criticizes them for putting heavy burdens on others while not adhering to those standards themselves, for seeking honor and public recognition, and for focusing on minor ritualistic details while neglecting the weightier matters of the law like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
- Inner Purity over Outer Appearance: Jesus often pointed out the difference between external religious practices and genuine inner transformation. In Matthew 23:25-26, He talks about the Pharisees cleaning the outside of the cup and dish while the inside remains dirty, illustrating that true purity starts from within.
- Do Not Show Off Your Righteousness: In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-18), Jesus warned against performing religious acts to be seen by others. Whether it’s giving to the needy, praying, or fasting, Jesus emphasized that these deeds should be done in secret, seeking the Father’s approval rather than human praise.
- Authentic Worship: In Mark 7:6-7, quoting Isaiah, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and teachers of the law, stating, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”
- The Parable of the Two Sons: In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus tells a parable of a man with two sons. One son initially refuses to work in the vineyard but later repents and goes, while the other agrees to work but doesn’t go. The former represents repentant sinners who might have led openly sinful lives but turn to righteousness, while the latter represents the hypocritical religious leaders who claim righteousness but don’t act accordingly.
- Warning Against Judgment: In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus warns against judging others while overlooking one’s own faults. He uses the metaphor of removing the plank from one’s own eye before attempting to remove the speck from someone else’s.
In summary, Jesus’s teachings about hypocrisy revolve around sincerity, authenticity, and inner transformation. He prioritized the state of the heart over external appearances and warned against self-righteousness and judgment. For Jesus, true righteousness is about consistent and genuine commitment to God’s commandments in thought, word, and deed.
Characteristics of Hypocrites In The Bible
The Bible, especially in the New Testament, offers numerous references to hypocrites and their characteristics. Here are some traits and behaviors associated with hypocrisy, as depicted in the scriptures:
- Pretense: Hypocrites often put on a show of piety and righteousness in public but don’t practice what they preach. They pretend to be someone they are not.
- Love for Praise: They crave public recognition and desire to be acknowledged for their apparent righteousness. As Jesus noted, they might pray or give alms publicly so that people might see and praise them (Matthew 6:1-5).
- Neglecting the Heart: Hypocrites are often concerned with external rituals and appearances but neglect the internal purity of the heart. They are likened to “whitewashed tombs” that appear beautiful on the outside but are full of dead bones inside (Matthew 23:27).
- Majoring in Minors: They often fixate on minor details of the law while neglecting its more substantial aspects like justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).
- Imposing Burdens on Others: They are quick to place heavy religious burdens on others but fail to carry them themselves (Matthew 23:4).
- Quick to Judge: Hypocrites are often quick to judge others without introspection, highlighting the faults of others while overlooking their own (Matthew 7:3-5).
- Deception: They are deceitful, pretending to be righteous while harboring malicious intent (Matthew 22:18).
- Resistance to Truth: Many times, hypocrites are resistant to genuine teachings and truth, especially if it challenges their position or status.
- Seeking Honor: They desire the best seats in synagogues and places of honor at banquets, signifying their love for status and prestige (Matthew 23:6).
- Rationalization: Hypocrites often find ways to rationalize their actions, even if they are in clear violation of God’s commandments.
- False Worship: They might engage in acts of worship, but their hearts are distant from God. Their worship is more about ritual than a genuine relationship with the Divine (Mark 7:6-7).
It’s worth noting that the term “hypocrite” originally referred to an actor who wore a mask, portraying a character in Greek theater. This theatrical imagery carries into its Biblical usage, depicting individuals who “wear a mask” of righteousness but whose true nature is different. The Bible warns against such behavior, urging believers to be genuine, authentic, and consistent in their faith and actions.
Conclusion:
Brothers and sisters, in summary, the consequences of hypocrisy are severe not just in the eyes of our fellow humans, but more critically, in the eyes of God. It corrodes the purity of our soul and leaves us spiritually destitute. God seeks a genuine heart, one that worships in spirit and in truth. Let us strive to be true in our words and deeds, so that we may experience the richness of a life that is in full communion with God. This is a vital lesson for us to imbibe, not just to be better believers but to be better human beings. Choose today to cast aside the mask of hypocrisy and embrace the divine truth that sets us free.
