Explain Bible

What does the Bible say about hypocrisy?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible condemns hypocrisy as the sin of professing faith or virtue outwardly while the heart and life deny God. Jesus warns against performing righteousness for human praise and calls His people first to face their own sin before correcting others (Matthew 6:1; Matthew 7:1-5). True love for God must show itself in love for fellow believers, and true religion includes bridling the tongue (1 John 4:20; James 1:26). God sees behind religious words and exposed appearances: those who honor Him only with lips are far from Him (Matthew 15:7-9; Titus 1:16). Yet Christ’s rebuke aims not at despair, but at humble repentance and sincere, Spirit-worked obedience.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 1 John 4:20

    If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

  • Matthew 7:5

    You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

  • Matthew 6:1

    "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

  • James 1:26

    If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

  • Matthew 7:1-5

    [1] "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. [2] For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. [3] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? [4] Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

  • Matthew 15:7-9

    [7] You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, [8] 'These people draw near to me with their mouth, And honor me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. [9] And in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrine rules made by men.'"

  • Romans 2:3

    Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

  • 1 John 2:9

    He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now.

  • Luke 12:2

    But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known.

  • Titus 1:16

    They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

Study outline

Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.

Nave's Topical Bible

See also

Go deeper

Ask Explain Bible AI about hypocrisy and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.

Ask what the Bible says about hypocrisy