In the biblical context, the term "hypocrite" is often used to describe individuals who outwardly display righteousness or piety but are inwardly corrupt or insincere. The ostentatious nature of hypocrites is a recurring theme in Scripture, where their actions are characterized by a desire for public admiration rather than genuine devotion to God.

The Greek word "hypokrites," from which "hypocrite" is derived, originally referred to an actor or one who wears a mask. This etymology underscores the duplicity inherent in hypocrisy—presenting a false front to conceal one's true intentions or character.

Old Testament References

The concept of hypocrisy is addressed in the Old Testament, where the prophets frequently condemned the Israelites for their insincere worship and failure to uphold God's commandments. Isaiah 29:13 highlights this duplicity: "Therefore the Lord said: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.'"

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ frequently rebukes the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocritical behavior. These religious leaders are often depicted as ostentatious in their religious practices, seeking the praise of men rather than the approval of God. In Matthew 6:1-2 , Jesus warns His followers: "Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward."

The ostentation of the hypocrites is further illustrated in Matthew 23, where Jesus delivers a series of "woes" to the scribes and Pharisees. In Matthew 23:5 , He states, "All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels." This critique underscores their focus on external appearances rather than internal righteousness.

Characteristics of Ostentatious Hypocrites

1. Public Display of Piety: Hypocrites often engage in religious activities to be seen by others. Their prayers, fasting, and almsgiving are performed with the intent of gaining human admiration rather than divine favor (Matthew 6:5-6).

2. Neglect of Inner Purity: While maintaining an outward appearance of holiness, hypocrites neglect the inner transformation that true faith requires. Jesus emphasizes this in Matthew 23:25-26 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence."

3. Judgmental Attitude: Hypocrites are often quick to judge others while ignoring their own faults. In Matthew 7:3-5 , Jesus admonishes, "Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

Warnings and Exhortations

The Bible consistently warns against the dangers of hypocrisy and encourages believers to pursue genuine faith and humility. In Luke 12:1 , Jesus cautions His disciples: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." This metaphor of yeast signifies the pervasive and corrupting influence of hypocrisy.

The apostle Paul also addresses the issue in his epistles, urging believers to live authentically and to let their love be sincere (Romans 12:9). The call to authenticity is a reminder that God desires truth in the inward being (Psalm 51:6) and that true worship is characterized by spirit and truth (John 4:24).Matthew 5:2,5,16
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 23:5
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Sermon on the Mount.
... omit it.] 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad ... the fast,
and so avoid the temptation to be hypocritically ostentatious, for fasting is ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 5.htm

Trumpets and Street Corners
... secret, Himself shall reward thee openly.5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not
be as the hypocrites are: for ... Our Lord speaks first of ostentatious almsgiving ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/trumpets and street corners.htm

Chapter xii.
... "Moreover, when ye fast," says He, "be not, as the hypocrites, of a ... But in this section
it is chiefly to be noticed, that there may be ostentatious display not ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xii 2.htm

Chapter i
... I am apt to believe that very few hypocrites engage in these ... gross and vulgar had
scarcely anything else; and the hypocritical and ostentatious magnified them ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter i.htm

Education of Jesus.
... of his character, by his opposition to priests and hypocrites, Hillel was ... This
ostentatious piece of architecture arrived in Judea by cargoes; these hundreds ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter iii education of jesus.htm

Necessity of Contemplating the Judgment-Seat of God, in Order to ...
... Bernard's purpose was to alarm hypocrites, who turned the grace of God ... though
consciously guilty before God, affects to make an ostentatious display before man ...
/.../chapter 12 necessity of contemplating.htm

Definitive Form of the Ideas of Jesus Respecting the Kingdom of ...
... O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern ... By the
side of the false, cold, and impossible idea of an ostentatious advent, he ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xvii definitive form of.htm

The Land and the People.
... mechanical ritualism was substituted for spiritual piety, an ostentatious
sanctimoniousness for ... How he arraigned those hypocrites seated on Moses' seat, those ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm

The Church as She Should Be
... and of dismission in receiving the converts and rejecting the hypocrites, but the ...
Establish a power among men of the most ostentatious and apparently stable ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the church as she should.htm

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... There were, indeed, many hypocrites among them, who might, in the language ... the Synagogue,
respectful salutations in the market, the ostentatious repetition of ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

Questions about the Christian Life (All) | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about hypocrisy? | GotQuestions.org

Growth in Life ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus