How Does Scripture Define a Hypocrite, and How Can We Avoid Acting Like One?

“If anyone thinks they’re something after they are usually not, they deceive themselves.” – Galatians 6:3
^“Since they didn’t know the righteousness of God and sought to ascertain their very own, they didn’t undergo God’s righteousness.” –  Romans 10:3
“They claim to know God, but by their actions, they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good.” – Titus 1:16

While we wish our faith to be real, many Christians fear that they’re becoming hypocrites when they struggle to live by faith but don’t necessarily “feel it.” That’s not precisely the case. Jesus calls out hypocritical behavior several times throughout Scripture, and it most definitely has something to do with the character of our hearts. Yet, the actual Biblical meaning goes beyond that, claiming it has more to do with our public vs. our private character. In other words, hypocrisy is all about intention and why we’re motivated to “act” in a certain way – in public.

A Christian who struggles with sin, wards off temptation, and puts one foot in front of the opposite to do what is correct in God’s eye must be considered courageous and perhaps even sincere, especially if their heart is reaching out for God’s wealthy mercy and style. This should raise the query, “Do we actually know the character of somebody’s heart?” Or is that a God thing? I say it’s that latter.

However, the one that resides two lives, one within the wide open and one within the closet, so to talk, is to be called a hypocrite. They are fooling their friends as they live a technique in public, posting pictures on social media, volunteering at shelters, or wearing flashy clothes at church while raising their hands in worship only to have a secret, hidden lifetime of immorality, entertaining sin in private. This behavior just isn’t only concerning but alarming at best. As we dig into the Scriptures, specifically the gospel of Matthew, and discover how Jesus reacted and rebuked the hypocrites of His day, it might also be sensible to actually understand what that looked like back then and the way we are able to avoid “acting” like one in today’s culture.

Woe Unto to You, Hypocrites

Jesus called out hypocrites several times, especially religious hypocrisy, which works to point out that this was a reasonably common issue. 

In Matthew 23, Jesus meets with a crowd in Jerusalem outside the synagogue to reprimand the religious leaders, namely scribes and Pharisees, pronouncing seven “woe” statements as an exclamation of grief, anguish, and sorrow for his or her faulty failings with their God-given abilities to steer the people. He shared that their motives weren’t sincere and done with the fallacious motives.

The first “woe” Jesus calls the leaders out for not opening the door of God’s kingdom to all people (Matthew 23:13). Showing that they were making religion legalistic.

The second “woe” was jarred toward the traditional Israel leaders, claiming they parade around acting high and mighty, attempting to persuade only one to hitch their religion only so that they can develop into as hypocritical as they’re (Matthew 23:15). 

The third “woe” claimed the religious leaders were creating loopholes in God’s message to learn themselves (Matthew 23:16-22), While the fourth “woe” Jesus points out the legalism, with little room for mercy or grace (Matthew 23: 23-24). 

The fifth “woe” called out their mockery of tending to outward appearances only to achieve approval while not cleansing and purifying their inner selves (Matthew 23:25-26). The sixth “woe” expands on that, comparing them to a whitewashed tomb, looking so nice on the skin but with rotten flesh inside (Matthew 23:27-28). Ouch!

The seventh and final “woe” claimed that the leaders didn’t honor the prophets of history as they claimed but as an alternative were just as guilty as those that killed and slaughtered massagers of God. Whoa!

Jesus definitely was not shy when calling out sinful and unrighteous behavior. Could you imagine being in that crowd and hearing this message? Talk about being left with a heavy heart. He is sharing how hypocrisy can damage a city, which also needs to be a warning to us!

Yes, Christians Can Be Hypocrites, Too

So, what does this all mean for us? It implies that we must heed this precious lesson from our Lord and realize that we are able to fall into hypocrisy if we are usually not mindful of our behaviors. Just because the Pharisees stood outside the synagogues of their flashy garments and lavishly adorning tassels, praying loudly for all to see and listen to, we can also fall into the pattern of looking for to seem a certain way and “look good” to others, craving attention and approval from man, only to be removed from God.

Matthew 6:1 warns us about practicing righteousness before others. Matthew 7:5 shares that we mustn’t indicate the log (sin) in a fellow brother’s eye, failing to see the two x 4 in our own. Then, there may be the notion that talk is reasonable after we live an alternate lifetime of sin (Matthew 15:7-8).

In other words, Jesus is commanding us to be intentional about our motives and check the state of our hearts as we live and walk by truth while stumbling into God’s great mercy and style (2 Corinthians 5:7, Matthew 5:16). 

Most, if not all, of us, have unfortunately demonstrated hypocrisy sooner or later. What might that appear like? Here are just a few signs or telltale indicators of hypocritical Christian behavior:

1. Not practicing what they preach. 
2. Doing a lot of good works in “public” and oversharing.
3. Unwilling to increase grace.
4. Pointing out the sins in others yet expecting attention and honor for their very own self-righteous selections.
5. Quick to forged blame or judgments.

How to Avoid Acting Like One

Let’s face it: None of us desires to be called a hypocrite, much less develop into one. So, we must safeguard our hearts now and heed the warnings Jesus offers us in Scripture. We must also fight our flesh’s inner turmoil and sinful ways. 

We must do not forget that we are able to all the time turn from our ways, selecting not to evolve while looking for redemption (Romans 12:2). Here are just a few ways to face against hypocrisy.

1. Do good in secret. My husband tells our daughters to “do good” when no one is watching. When we’ve got a humble heart and seek to please only God, we cannot have to fix our eyes on others to win over the hearts of man, but slightly set our eyes on Jesus to win His heart alone (Matthew 6:1-4).
2. Ask for God’s help. The fantastic thing about our God is that He invites us to come back to Him in prayer with anything. We can go to Him with our hearts stuffed with temptations and seek His love and style (Matthew 7:7-11).
3. Stay away from the “social” traps. While there are advantages to social media, there are also so many places to get snarled with imposter influencers. The tantalizing posts on how you can be a “good” Christian can really lure us in, so tread calmly here and pray before you post or comment (Philippians 4:7, Colossians 3:15).
4. Speak in love. When we encounter someone combating a sin, we approach it in love slightly than condemnation. We may not know what personal struggles they’re wading through, so after we extend truth gently and lovingly, we accept that we’re all sinners looking for God’s mercy and style (Romans 12:9).
5. Work on your individual heart. We mustn’t give attention to outer appearances but on the condition of our hearts. Dig deep in your heart and are available clean with God about transgressions that should be delivered to light and areas in your life that it’s good to change (Matthew 23:26).

Closing Prayer

Father God, we come before You, looking for Your mercy and style. Please forgive us for succumbing to hypocrisy, entertaining our need for worldly validation and acceptance. Help our should be seen and justified come from You alone. Please sanctify our hearts and help us walk humbly and in a way that honors You. Amen.

Photo Credit: ©Canva Pro/by ismagilov from Getty Images

Alicia Searl is a devotional writer, blogger, and speaker that’s captivated with pouring out her heart and pointing ladies of all ages back to Jesus. She has an education background and master’s in literacy.  Her favorite people call her Mom, which is why much of her time is spent cheering them on at a softball game or dance class. She is married to her heartthrob (a tall, spiky-haired blond) who can whip up a mean latte. She sips that goodness while writing her heart on a page while her puppy licks her feet. Visit her website at aliciasearl.com and connect along with her on Instagram and Facebook.