Hypocrisy is living for the audience instead of for God. It is exhausting, because the mask has to be held up all the time.
What the Bible says
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”Matthew 6:6 · KJV
“In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.”Luke 12:1–2 · KJV
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7 · KJV
3 steps
- Pray in secret today — no one else needs to know (Matthew 6:6).
- Ask: who am I trying to impress? Confess it.
- Do one good thing this week that no one will ever see.
Follow the daily Short
Questions
What is a hypocrite in the Bible?
Literally an actor. Jesus used it for people who perform religion for others while their hearts stay far from God (Matthew 23:27).
Am I a hypocrite if I still struggle with sin?
Struggling is not hypocrisy. Hiding and pretending is. Honesty before God is the opposite of hypocrisy.
How does Jesus free us from performing?
He gives righteousness as a gift, so there is nothing left to prove. “The LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).