“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” – Matthew 23:13
Bible Verses About Being A Hypocrite
Matthew 7:3 – we are reminded to reflect upon our own flaws before judging others.
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” – Matthew 7:3
Luke 6:41-42 – here, Jesus teaches about the dangers of hypocrisy in judgment.
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” – Luke 6:41-42
Matthew 23:25-26 – this passage focuses on the inner moral state rather than outward appearances.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” – Matthew 23:25-26
Galatians 6:3 – this encourages self-reflection, warning against self-deception.
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” – Galatians 6:3
James 1:22 – this emphasizes the need for action that reflects our faith.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22
Isaiah 29:13 – this touches on empty rituals and the heart’s true condition.
“And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.'” – Isaiah 29:13
Luke 12:1 – here, Jesus warns of the leaven of hypocrisy.
“In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.'” – Luke 12:1
Proverbs 11:3 – speaks to the integrity versus hypocrisy dichotomy.
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” – Proverbs 11:3
Ezekiel 33:31 – warns against superficiality in faith.
“And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say, but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act, and their heart is set on their gain.” – Ezekiel 33:31
Matthew 15:8-9 – emphasizes that false worship is rooted in hypocrisy.
“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” – Matthew 15:8-9
1 John 1:8 – warns us against self-deception.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” – 1 John 1:8
Romans 2:1 – highlights the tendency to judge others while being hypocritical.
“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” – Romans 2:1
Mark 12:38-40 – warns of the behaviors of hypocritical leaders.
“And in his teaching he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.'” – Mark 12:38-40
Titus 1:16 – condemning those who claim to know God but deny Him through actions.
“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” – Titus 1:16
Matthew 5:20 – Jesus calls for a righteousness that surpasses that of hypocrites.
“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20
Revelation 3:16 – God does not desire complacent, lukewarm faith.
“So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3:16
Proverbs 28:13 – talks about the consequences of denying one’s sins.
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Colossians 3:9 – advises against lying to one another.
“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.” – Colossians 3:9
Proverbs 24:9 – warns against devising foolishness.
“The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.” – Proverbs 24:9
1 Timothy 4:2 – talks about the hypocrisy of false teachers.
“Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.” – 1 Timothy 4:2
Matthew 6:1 – teaches the importance of sincerity in acts of righteousness.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:1
1 Peter 2:1 – encourages believers to shed hypocrisy.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – 1 Peter 2:1
Proverbs 10:9 – reiterates the virtue of integrity.
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” – Proverbs 10:9
Revelation 21:8 – describes the fate of the cowardly and unbelieving.
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8
Proverbs 15:8 – values the prayers of the upright.
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.” – Proverbs 15:8
Final Thoughts
We’ve explored various verses that guide us on the topic of hypocrisy, which is sadly prevalent among people and even among believers. The Bible encourages us to examine our hearts, for it’s not enough to simply appear righteous. We are called to live authentically and sincerely in our faith. As we reflect on these verses, it’s essential to be honest about our shortcomings and to avoid casting judgment on others while neglecting our own faults.
By focusing on self-improvement and repentance, we can build a community of genuine believers who uplift one another. Let’s commit to being true to our values, allowing our actions to reflect our faith.
For more insight, check out Bible Verses About Gossip or Bible Verses About Pride for deeper discussions about integrity. Our journey of understanding continues as we dive further into scripture.