Christian author Kevin DeYoung writes, that hypocrisy is “the gap between public persona and private character.” Tim Challies describes hypocrisy as “religion as a means of personal enrichment or enhanced reputation.” The word, hypocrisy, derives from the Greek term for actor—literally, “one who wears a mask”—in other words, someone who pretends to be what he is not. God speaks very forcefully against hypocrisy throughout the Bible. Matthew 6:2 states that putting on a show of self-sacrifice for self-glorification is hypocritical. Mathew 6:5 warns against praying to earn the praise and recognition of others. In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were like, “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” And, in Luke 16:15, Jesus said, "You wear a noble, pious expression in public, but God knows your evil hearts. Your pretense brings you honor from the people, but it is an abomination in the sight of God.” It would seem very important then for us to understand how not to be hypocrites!
