Matthew 23:27 (KJV)
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”
Understanding Hypocrisy in Scripture
Hypocrisy is not merely inconsistency; it is the deliberate presentation of a false spiritual image. In the KJV, the word hypocrite appears frequently, especially in the teachings of Jesus, and always as a warning. A hypocrite is one who masks inward corruption with outward religious appearance, seeking the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
In biblical context, hypocrisy is a spiritual deception—first deceiving others, and eventually deceiving oneself. It is a sin Jesus addressed directly, forcefully, and repeatedly, because it corrupts the witness of the Church, dishonors the name of God, and leads souls astray.
The Nature of Hypocrisy
Pretending Righteousness While Harboring Sin
Jesus exposed hypocrites who performed religious acts for public praise. He said in Matthew 6:1 (KJV), “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them.”
The issue is not the act itself, but the motive. Hypocrisy seeks applause, not purity.
Speaking One Thing While Doing Another
Jesus warned of those who “say, and do not” (Matthew 23:3 KJV).
A hypocrite can articulate doctrine, demand righteousness from others, and condemn sin publicly while privately indulging in the very same sins. This contradiction reveals a heart unreconciled to God.
Using Religion as a Mask
In Job 15:34 (KJV), it declares, “the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate.”
The hypocrite tries to use religious rituals, positions, or traditions as a cloak. They are like “whited sepulchres”—clean on the outside, but spiritually dead within.
The Danger of Hypocrisy
It Invites God’s Judgment
Few sins receive stronger warnings than hypocrisy. Jesus pronounced repeated “woes” upon the Pharisees, revealing that God’s wrath is uniquely stirred by the contradiction between religious appearance and inward corruption.
Isaiah 29:13 (KJV) exposes this danger:
“This people draw near me with their mouth… but have removed their heart far from me.”
God does not accept worship that does not flow from a submitted heart.
It Corrupts the Church
Hypocrisy spreads like leaven (Luke 12:1 KJV).
When believers imitate outward forms of godliness without inward transformation, the Church becomes weakened, its witness diluted, and its testimony compromised.
It Hinders True Repentance
A hypocrite hides behind a mask, refusing to confront true spiritual condition.
While God forgives the humble, the hypocrite refuses humility. Proverbs 28:13 (KJV) warns:
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Hypocrisy keeps a person in darkness while pretending to walk in light.
Deliverance From Hypocrisy
Return to a Heart Religion
True worship begins in the heart. David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10 KJV).
The cure for hypocrisy is not more outward activity but sincere inward cleansing.
Walk in Honesty Before God
1 John 1:7 (KJV) teaches believers to “walk in the light.”
Walking in the light means honesty, transparency, and the willingness to acknowledge sin.
A believer rejects masks and embraces truth.
Seek Transformation, Not Performance
Romans 12:2 (KJV) commands believers to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
This transformation produces genuine righteousness—righteousness that flows from God’s Spirit, not human effort or religious performance.
Conclusion
Hypocrisy is a spiritual cancer that corrupts the heart, deceives the mind, and dishonors the Lord. It elevates appearance over substance and tradition over truth. Jesus condemned hypocrisy because it stands as the very opposite of sincere faith. Yet through repentance, humility, and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, believers can walk in authenticity, purity, and truth.
God calls His people not to display religion, but to live it.
Not to pretend righteousness, but to pursue it.
Not to appear holy before men, but to be holy before Him who sees the heart.
The true child of God seeks not the applause of men but the approval of the Father—and in that pursuit, hypocrisy dies, and genuine holiness lives.