Hypocrisy

Also called: Nominal Religion
Pretending to be what one is not, particularly regarding false virtue or nominal religion.

Top Bible Verses about Hypocrisy

Proverbs 26:23–28

Like impure silver which overlays an earthen vessel, so are smooth lips and an evil heart. On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but inside he will harbor deceit. When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations are in his heart. Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly. He who digs a pit, in it he will fall, and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back. A tongue of deceit hates its victim, and a flattering mouth makes ruin. Read Proverbs 26:23–28

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful more than anything else, and it is disastrous. Who can understand it? Read Jeremiah 17:9

Matthew 15:7–9

Hypocrites! Isaiah correctly prophesied about you saying, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me, and they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” Read Matthew 15:7–9

Matthew 23:1–3

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses. Therefore do and observe everything that they tell you, but do not do as they do, for they tell others to do something and do not do it themselves. Read Matthew 23:1–3

1 Peter 2:1–3

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is kind, Read 1 Peter 2:1–3

Famous Christian Quotes About Hypocrisy, Nominal Religion

Cranmer Recants of His Insincere Writings

Now I come to the great thing that so much troubles my conscience, more than anything that ever I did or said in my whole life. And that is, the setting abroad of writings contrary to the truth; which now here I renounce and refuse as things written with my hand contrary to the truth that I thought in my heart, and written for fear of death and to save my life if it might be. And that is, all such bills and papers that I have written or signed with my hand since my degradation; wherein I have written many things untrue. And since my hand offended, writing contrary to my heart, my hand shall therefore first be punished; for, may I come to the fire, it shall be first burned.

Thomas Cranmer

Comparing Ourselves to God Shows Our True Selves

Such is our innate pride that we always seem to ourselves just, and upright, and wise, and holy, until we are convinced, by clear evidence, of our injustice, vileness, folly, and impurity. We are not convinced, however, if we look only to ourselves, and not to the Lord also—He being the only standard by the application of which this conviction can be produced. For, since we are all naturally prone to hypocrisy, any empty semblance of righteousness is quite enough to satisfy us instead of righteousness itself.

John Calvin

Nothing More Known but Less Practiced Than Christianity

Nothing is more generally known than our duties which belong to Christianity; and yet, how amazing is it, nothing is less practiced? There is much of it in name and show, but little of it in the heart and conversation; indeed, if going to church, and to the sacrament, or, if our being called after the name of Christ, and being baptized into that name; if that will make us Christians, I believe all of us would have a claim thereto.

George Whitefield
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