Hypocrite

Hypocrite (Greek hypokritēs, literally an actor who plays a role beneath a mask) was a term Jesus applied with particular intensity to scribes and Pharisees who performed religious duties for public recognition rather than genuine devotion to God. The word entered biblical vocabulary from Greek theater, where actors wore masks to represent characters—the hypocrite presents a face that is not their own. Jesus's seven woes in Matthew 23 are addressed repeatedly to scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, cataloging specific failures: they shut the kingdom against others, devour widows' houses while making long prayers, make converts twice as fit for hell, strain out gnats while swallowing camels, clean the outside of the cup while the inside is full of greed.

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16) identifies the hypocrite's motivation as human applause: they give alms with trumpets, pray standing in synagogues to be seen, and disfigure their faces while fasting so that others will notice their devotion. The Hebrew equivalent in Job and the wisdom literature (ḥānēph, profane or godless one) captures the element of insincerity and irreligion beneath a religious exterior. Jesus's teaching consistently locates authenticity in the hiddenness of the heart rather than in public performance.