Hypocrisy is one of the most pervasive issues that Jesus confronted during His time on earth.
It involves a disconnection between what one claims to believe and how one actually lives.
The Bible offers a clear and profound perspective on the dangers of hypocrisy and how it is despised by God.
Hypocrites are those who put on a façade of righteousness, but their hearts are far from God.
In these 35 Bible verses, we will dive into the scriptures that expose the nature of hypocrisy, how to avoid it, and how God sees those who live with duplicity.
The call for believers is clear: to live authentically, with integrity, and in alignment with God’s truth.
Bible Verses About Hypocrites
1. Matthew 23:27 – Whitewashed Tombs
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”
2. Matthew 7:5 – Removing the Plank
“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
3. Luke 12:1 – Beware of the Leaven of Hypocrisy
“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
4. James 1:26 – True Religion
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
5. Matthew 23:25 – Clean the Inside
“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.”
6. Romans 2:1 – Judging Others
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”
7. 1 John 4:20 – Loving God and Others
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
8. Matthew 15:7-9 – Worship in Vain
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'”
9. Luke 11:44 – Hidden Hypocrisy
“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
10. Matthew 23:3 – Do What They Say, Not What They Do
“So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”
11. Matthew 23:29-31 – Building Monuments for the Righteous
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.”
12. Galatians 6:3 – Not Lifting Up Yourself
“If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”
13. James 3:11 – The Tongue of Hypocrisy
“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”
14. Matthew 23:23 – Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.”
15. Revelation 3:15-16 – Lukewarm Christians
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
16. Matthew 7:21-23 – The False Disciples
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”
17. 1 John 4:20 – Loving God and Loving Others
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
18. Matthew 23:13 – Blocking the Way to Heaven
“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.”
19. Romans 2:17-22 – The Hypocrisy of Religious People
“Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?”
20. Matthew 6:5-6 – Hypocrites in Prayer
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
21. Luke 18:9-14 – The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.'”
22. Matthew 23:25 – Focus on the Inside
“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.”
23. 2 Timothy 3:5 – Form of Godliness without Power
“They have a form of godliness but deny its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
24. Matthew 15:8 – Hypocrisy in Worship
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
25. Luke 6:42 – The Hypocrite’s Blindness
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?”
26. Galatians 6:3 – Self-Deception
“If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”
27. Revelation 3:15-16 – Lukewarm Christians
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
28. 1 Peter 1:22 – Genuine Love
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
29. Romans 12:9 – Love Without Hypocrisy
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
30. Matthew 23:24 – Straining Out the Gnat, Swallowing the Camel
“You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”
Our Thoughts On What The Bible Says About Hypocrites
The Bible provides clear and powerful warnings against hypocrisy, calling us to live in truth, integrity, and obedience to God.
Hypocrisy, whether in our relationship with God or in how we treat others, creates a barrier to true fellowship and spiritual growth.
Jesus and the apostles continuously urged us to align our actions with our beliefs, ensuring that our worship, love, and service reflect the heart of Christ.
As we grow in our relationship with God, we must be vigilant, allowing the Holy Spirit to purify our hearts and remove any duplicity.
True discipleship is not about perfection but authenticity—living out the truth of God’s Word in every area of our lives.
Let us strive to be genuine in our faith and honor God with our hearts, words, and actions.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come before You, asking for Your help to remove all hypocrisy from my life. Guide me in aligning my actions with Your Word, so that I may be a true reflection of Your love.
Cleanse my heart, Lord, from any hidden sin and help me walk in humility and truth. May my life be an example of sincerity in faith, where my heart, words, and actions are in harmony.
Help me to follow You fully, leaving behind any falsehood and walking in authenticity. I trust in Your grace to transform me, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.