Topical Encyclopedia Pretense, in a biblical context, refers to the act of pretending or putting on a false appearance, often to deceive others or to gain some advantage. The Bible addresses the issue of pretense in various passages, highlighting its moral and spiritual implications.Old Testament References In the Old Testament, pretense is often associated with hypocrisy and deceit. The prophets frequently condemned the Israelites for their insincere worship and false piety. Isaiah 29:13 states, "Therefore the Lord said: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.'" This verse underscores the disconnect between outward religious expressions and the true condition of the heart. Jeremiah also speaks against the pretense of the people, particularly the leaders, who claim to follow God while their actions reveal otherwise. Jeremiah 7:9-10 questions, "Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, 'We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations'?" New Testament References In the New Testament, Jesus frequently rebukes the Pharisees and religious leaders for their pretense. In Matthew 23:27-28 , Jesus declares, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Here, Jesus criticizes the leaders for their outward show of righteousness that masks their inner corruption. The Apostle Paul also addresses pretense in his letters. In Philippians 1:15-18 , Paul acknowledges that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. He writes, "The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice." Paul recognizes that even when the motives are not pure, the proclamation of Christ can still have a positive impact. Moral and Spiritual Implications Pretense is fundamentally at odds with the biblical call to sincerity and truthfulness. The Scriptures emphasize that God desires truth in the inward being (Psalm 51:6) and that believers are to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Pretense undermines genuine faith and can lead to spiritual blindness and self-deception. The Bible warns against the dangers of pretense, urging believers to examine their hearts and motives. James 1:26 cautions, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless." This highlights the importance of aligning one's actions and words with a sincere heart. In summary, pretense is a significant concern in the biblical narrative, as it reflects a disconnect between outward appearances and inner reality. The Bible calls for authenticity, integrity, and a heart fully devoted to God, free from the deceit of pretense. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (n.) Alt. of Pretence.Greek 4392. prophasis -- a pretense ... a pretense. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: prophasis Phonetic Spelling: (prof'-as-is) Short Definition: a pretext, an excuse Definition: a ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4392.htm - 6k 3132. manteuomai -- to divine 5573. pseudologos -- speaking falsely, lying Library Pusillus of Lamasba Said: "I Believe that Baptism is not unto ... Whether Since Christ's Passion the Legal Ceremonies Can be ... Whether all Dissimulation is a Sin? Whether Christ Should have Appeared to the Disciples "In Another ... Meekness and Rest In Short, the New Education is as Harsh as the Old... David's Lord "Woe unto You, Because Ye Build the Tombs of the Prophets, and ... Matt. xxiii. 14 Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and ... Thesaurus Pretense (9 Occurrences)... (n.) Alt. of Pretence. Multi-Version Concordance Pretense (9 Occurrences). ... For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. ... /p/pretense.htm - 9k Widows (33 Occurrences) Devour (118 Occurrences) Pretence (5 Occurrences) Condemnation (30 Occurrences) Greater (219 Occurrences) Lengthy (4 Occurrences) Dissemble (2 Occurrences) Appearance's (2 Occurrences) Offer (403 Occurrences) Resources What does the Bible say about sincerity? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God kill Ananias and Sapphira for lying? | GotQuestions.org Did God divorce Israel? | GotQuestions.org Pretense: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Pretense (9 Occurrences)Matthew 23:13 Matthew 23:14 Mark 12:40 Luke 20:47 Acts 27:30 Philippians 1:18 Joshua 8:15 1 Kings 14:6 Jeremiah 3:10 Subtopics Related Terms |
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