Pretending to have good intentions or feelings while really having different ones.
About Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is pretending to be something you are not, especially pretending to be religious or good. Our modern understanding of the word “hypocrisy” comes from how it is used in the New Testament, especially by Jesus. In both the New Testament and later meanings, the word usually meant lying, not telling the truth, or claiming to have good qualities you do not have.
Hypocrisy has a consistently negative meaning in the Bible. However, when it was first used by the Greeks, it did not mean something bad. It meant "to explain" or "to interpret." A person called a "hypocrite" was usually an actor in plays who helped explain stories to the audience.
Key References
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
All Scripture References (7)
Matthew (1)
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Mark (1)
But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”
Luke (2)
In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
Galatians (1)
The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
1 Timothy (1)
influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
1 Peter (1)
Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.