What does the Bible say about hypocrites?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible condemns hypocrisy as sinful pretense before God, who sees the heart and calls his people to sincere faith, repentance, and obedience. Isaiah exposes those who hide their plans from the Lord and reverse moral reality, as though the Potter were subject to the clay (Isaiah 29:15-16). Jesus plainly knew the hypocrisy of those who tested him with flattering words (Matthew 22:18), and he rebuked religious leaders who prized outward appearance while neglecting inward cleansing and true worship (Matthew 23:17, 19, 26). Isaiah also links hypocrisy with corrupt speech and ungodly deeds (Isaiah 9:17; 32:6). Yet Job confesses that no godless hypocrite can stand before God (Job 13:16). The remedy is not better concealment, but humble confession and the cleansing grace of Christ.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- God knows and detects Isaiah 29:15; Isaiah 29:16
- Christ knew and detected Matthew 22:18
- God has no pleasure in Isaiah 9:17
- Shall not come before God Job 13:16
- Described as
- Wilfully blind Matthew 23:17; Matthew 23:19; Matthew 23:26
- Vile Isaiah 32:6
- Self-righteous Isaiah 65:5; Luke 18:11
- Covetous Ezekiel 33:31; 2 Peter 2:3
- Ostentatious Matthew 5:2; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 5:16; Matthew 23:5
- Censorious Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 13:14; Luke 13:15
- Regarding tradition more than the word of God Matthew 15:1-3
- Exact in minor, but neglecting important duties Matthew 23:23; Matthew 23:24
- Having but a form of godliness 2 Timothy 3:5
- Seeking only outward purity Luke 11:39
- Professing but not practising Ezekiel 33:31; Ezekiel 33:32; Matthew 23:3; Romans 2:17-23
- Using but lip-worship Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8
- Glorying in appearance only 2 Corinthians 5:12
- Trusting in privileges Jeremiah 7:4; Matthew 3:9
- Apparently zealous in the things of God Isaiah 58:2
- Zealous in making proselytes Matthew 23:15
- Devouring widows’ houses Matthew 23:14
- Loving pre-eminence Matthew 23:6; Matthew 23:7
- Worship of, not acceptable to God Isaiah 1:11-15; Isaiah 58:3-5; Matthew 15:9
- Joy of, but for a moment Job 20:5
- Hope of perishes Job 8:13; Job 27:8; Job 27:9
- Heap up wrath Job 36:13
- Fearfulness shall surprise Isaiah 33:14
- Destroy others by slander Proverbs 11:9
- In power, are a snare Job 34:30
- The Apostasy to abound with 1 Timothy 4:2
- Beware the principles of Luke 12:1
- Spirit of, hinders growth in grace 1 Peter 2:1
- Woe to Isaiah 29:15; Matthew 23:13
- Punishment of Job 15:34; Isaiah 10:6; Jeremiah 42:20; Jeremiah 42:22; Matthew 24:51
- Illustrated Matthew 23:27; Matthew 23:28; Luke 11:44
- Exemplified
- Cain Genesis 4:3
- Absalom 2 Samuel 15:7; 2 Samuel 15:8
- The Jews Jeremiah 3:10
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