Luke 12:1b: Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
The word used for “hypocrite” in the New Testament is defined as “an actor under an assumed character (stage-player)” (see Strong G5273). A hypocrite in the biblical sense pretends to be righteous, but is not.
The Pharisees Jesus referred to in Luke 12 demonstrated this. Jesus rebuked them for doing things that appeared righteous on the outside while failing to be clean on the inside (Luke 11:39). They did not respond to His rebuke with repentance, but with arrogant retaliation (verses 53-54). This exemplified their hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy can take on several forms.
Probably the most common picture of a hypocrite is one who criticizes others’ sins, but overlooks his or her own. Jesus spoke against this in Matthew 7:5: Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
The hypocrite pretends to revere God by charging others to obey, but does not really care about pleasing God, as shown by his or her own actions.
Hypocrisy also manifests itself in doing things that appear righteous, but doing so with an unrighteous motive.
Consider the scribes and Pharisees who did all their works “for to be seen of men” (Matt. 23:5). When praying in public, for example, these hypocrites might use “vain repetitions” to appear wise, but they did not really pray from the heart. Such is hypocrisy (Matt. 6:7; cf. Matt. 6:5; 23:14). It is an example of “honoring” Jesus with the lips, while the heart is far from Him (Mark 7:6).
More generally, hypocrisy can exist when individuals claim to be Christians but do not live Christian lives. “Acting” the part of a Christian only on Sunday mornings or when someone asks “what is your religion?” is far from the lifestyle of obedience God commands (Rom. 12:1).
Christians are commanded to lay aside hypocrisies (1 Pet. 2:1).
And if we are ever discouraged by someone who claims to be a Christian but does not follow Christ’s steps, know that this is not a problem with God or His Word. Rather, it is in spite of what God promotes through His Word.
As discouraging as such hypocrisy can be, it is no excuse for those who witness it to not obey God. He does not call us to follow the hypocrite, but to follow Him.
Know also that there are some who really are doing their best to obey God. They constantly examine themselves to see where improvement is needed, and repent when sin is discovered. They desire to please Him above all.
May we do likewise and sincerely serve God.
– Michael Hickox