If there’s one thing we’re sure of that God hates, it’s hypocrisy. Jesus dealt with other types of sinners gently but when it came to the Pharisees who were hypocrites, He was a little harsh. Really, it can be frustrating to see someone pretend to be what they’re not but as Christians, we need to have a biblical view of the issue. This is what the bible says on hypocrisy.

According to gotquestions.org, hypocrisy can take two forms. It can be either in the form of professing belief in something and then acting in a manner contrary to that belief or in the form of looking down on others when we ourselves are flawed. Both of them are wrong and against God’s desire for His children.

The former is equal to deceit and the bible helps us understand that deceit and God don’t mix well together. God deceives no one. So, His children are expected to also be transparent. Be known for what you stand for. Do not be like Judas Iscariot who acted as if He loved Jesus whereas he had plans to betray him. Claiming to love God and doing things that upset Him or doing things that you are aware of that oppose His values, is only hypocrisy. Pretending to be what you are not is definitely not an attribute that pleases God. You deceive yourself, others and make an effort to deceive God (this is of course, not possible) and hence, you mock God. (Galatians 6:3; Luke 6:46; Mark 7:6)

The most common form of hypocrisy and most annoying, even to man is that in which a person looks down on others or complains about something he/she is also guilty of. I heard of a story in a particular school where a certain teacher would always accuse two people of the opposite sex found together in a somewhat secluded area alone, of doing something immoral and sometimes, get them to be heavily penalized. That was okay. I mean, we should all be against immorality of any sort yeah? But it was so disgusting to find out that that same teacher was at that moment, involved in extra-marital affairs. It’s the hypocrisy for me. Pointing accusing fingers while being guilty of the same thing yourself, is the poorest thing to do…especially being a Christian (Romans 2:1). Jesus Christ kicked against it seriously (Matthew 7:1-5). When the adulterous woman was found in her sin, her accusers were so quick to judge her…talking about stoning her to death. Then Jesus said that the one without sin amongst them, should be the first to cast a stone but of course, none of them could, because no one is without sin (John 8:1-11). The bible tells us not to bother about the speck in a person’s eyes when we have an entire log in ours (Matthew7:3).

This is not to say we cannot correct a person who is sinning just because we also sin…after all, the bible tells us to hate sin (Romans 12:9). Rather, what this means is that we are not to judge others from a standpoint of self-righteousness or superiority as the Pharisees and Scribes in the days of Jesus Christ did. Be sure to have the log in your own eyes removed first. Only then would you be able to remove the speck in the other person’s eye (Matthew 7:5).

Hypocrisy is intolerable as Jesus kicks against it (Matthew 23: 27-28). A hypocrite tends to cover his sins rather than actually work towards the perfection he claims to have attained. This is dangerous as it would definitely be a hindrance to anyone hoping to see God (Psalm 101:7). Hypocrisy is very dangerous to spiritual growth and no one really wants to hang around someone who is hypocritical. Steer clear of pretense and play-acting, come clean to the Lord and He is able to make you achieve that level of holiness which you desire and need.  

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” 1 Peter 2:1