
The following is a complimentary re-post – all copyrights retained by and for:https://www.teachingtruth.org/bible-articles-1/the-inward-danger-of-hypocrisy Scriptures added by this editor.
It is likely that each reader has been hurt by a hypocrite.
It is also quite likely that each has played the hypocrite and hurt others.
Hypocrisy’s English etymology springs from two parts – hypo and krei – which, when combined, mean to “under discriminate.” Its Greek origin comes from a word meaning to “answer a fellow-actor.”
The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?
Together, these ideas demonstrate one whose false appearance results in using a lesser standard of judgment for self than for others.
Therefore, Jesus warned about the dangers of playing the hypocrite: “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 7:5 ESV).
Hurt happens when one has a façade of godliness and a heart of wickedness.
There are also inward dangers for the chronic hypocrite.
First, there is the danger of using the “self-standard,” which views everything done or not done by others from the perspective of what is being done or not done for “me.”
Motives are assigned and those who fail to measure up to the “self-standard” are written off as uncaring or unconcerned. Loneliness ensues because this attitude prevents much-needed friendships:
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NKJV).
“Closer than a brother” friendships cannot be achieved because hypocrisy relegates anyone willing to speak truth in love as an antagonist. Taken to extremes, the hypocrite sees others in only two categories: those who can be used and those who do not care.
Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees
1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3Therefore whatever they tell you [a]to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6They love the [b]best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your [c]Teacher, [d]the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whoever exalts himself will be [e]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be [f]exalted.
13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14[g]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [h]hell as yourselves.
16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that [i]sanctifies the gold? 18And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20Therefore he who [j]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who [k]dwells in it. 22And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [l]self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [m]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31“Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33Serpents, brood[n] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
The second danger is depression and anxiety.
The inner turmoil of fronting godliness from an ungodly heart destroys peace of mind. Wanting to be perceived as godly while refusing to make the necessary changes requires two-facedness, with the constant playacting creating bitterness of spirit. The Lord stated,
“If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22b ESV).
His admonition is for single vision that aligns the outward and inward, thus preventing the animosity that occurs due to deception.
While it is easy to play the hypocrite, it is difficult to enjoy the role. May each hear the Lord’s call for inward godliness that manifests itself in a godly life. T
his will clear away the inner angst of double standard as well as allow friendships that can prove eternally beneficial.
The answer to Hypocrisy – Be Real
Other scriptures about accepting who you are and rejoicing in being real.
1) “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~Ephesians 2:10
2)“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” ~Psalm 139:13-14
3)“Indeed, the very hairs of your heard are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” ~Luke 12:7
4)“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” ~Isaiah 44:2
5)“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” ~2Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
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