The term "hypocrites" is frequently associated with the Pharisees in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels. The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judea during the time of Jesus, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions that had developed around it. Despite their outward appearance of piety, Jesus often criticized them for their hypocrisy, which He defined as a discrepancy between their external religious observance and their internal spiritual state.

Biblical References:

1. Matthew 23:13-15 : Jesus delivers a series of woes to the Pharisees, highlighting their hypocrisy. He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."

2. Matthew 23:23-28 : Jesus continues His rebuke, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, scribes 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, so that the outside may become clean as well. 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."

3. Luke 11:39-44 : Jesus addresses the Pharisees, saying, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk across without even noticing."

Characteristics of Pharisaic Hypocrisy:

· Outward Piety vs. Inward Corruption: The Pharisees were meticulous in their observance of the law and traditions, yet Jesus condemned them for neglecting the more profound aspects of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Their focus on external rituals masked an inner moral and spiritual decay.

· Legalism and Tradition: The Pharisees were known for their legalistic approach to the law, often prioritizing human traditions over the commandments of God. This legalism led to a form of religion that was more about appearances than genuine faith.

· Pride and Self-Righteousness: The Pharisees often sought public recognition for their religious acts, desiring the praise of men rather than the approval of God. Their self-righteousness blinded them to their own need for repentance and transformation.

· Obstruction to the Kingdom: Jesus accused the Pharisees of hindering others from entering the kingdom of heaven. Their teachings and practices created barriers rather than pathways to a true relationship with God.

Theological Implications:

The Pharisees serve as a cautionary example of how religious devotion can become corrupted by hypocrisy. Their account underscores the importance of aligning one's heart with one's actions and prioritizing the weightier matters of the law. Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees calls believers to examine their own lives for any traces of hypocrisy and to pursue a faith that is both authentic and transformative.Matthew 16:3
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Discourse of Jesus against the Scribes and Pharisees.
... "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut ... enter.
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/discourse of jesus against the.htm

Woes on the Pharisees
... "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites," said Jesus; "for ye shut up the
kingdom of heaven against ... "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 67 woes on the.htm

Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and ...
... This sin of ostentation was the first enumerated sin of the Pharisees.]
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cx jesus last public discourse.htm

And when Jesus Entered the Temple, they Brought unto Him Blind And ...
... [42] [2766] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ... [43] [2768]
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xl and when jesus.htm

Jesus Condemns those who Pretend to be Good
... your fingers. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut ... come
in. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus condemns those who pretend.htm

Hypocrisy
... Our Lord in it calls the Pharisees and Sadducees hypocrites; because, though they
could use their common sense and experience to judge of the weather they ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxxvii hypocrisy.htm

The Social Test of Religion
... Fourth Day: Religion Which Obscured Duty. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! ... Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter ix the social test.htm

Inward and Outward Cleansing.
... their hearts, which God alone sees. To some therefore of them"not to
all"He said, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xi inward and outward cleansing.htm

The King's Farewell
... D.; ST. MATTHEW Chaps. XVIII to XXVIII THE KING'S FAREWELL. 'Woe unto you, scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites! ... Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the kings farewell.htm

The Leaven of the Pharisees
... the words, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the ... everything
would be reversed, and the unclean should be those hypocrites, the strictest ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 8 11-21 the leaven of.htm

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