Having its roots in a Greek word denoting 'actor', hypocrisy suggests pretending or deceiving—a filthy inside disguised by a clean outside.

We have to take care that we are not pretending or acting, but positively reflect on the outside what we are on the inside.

We are continually in danger of being deceived by our carnal nature, a nature which distracts us from following God, even though we go through the motions.

In the gospel accounts, the Pharisees receive the lion's share of Christ's correction for their blatant hypocrisy, and they have become a byword for it.

The hypocritical environmental and animal rights activists despise both God's laws and beings created in His image, murdering them by the millions.

The invasion of illegal aliens has strained American hospitals, with a startling annual cost of 27 billion dollars.

God proclaims in Hosea 4:1, 'There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.' Considering the state of American hypocrisy, His judgment is not far off.

If we feel we are better than our brethren, separating ourselves from them, we are hypocrites and actors, harboring the leavening of the Pharisees in us.

Jesus warned His disciples to cease pretending to be better than they are, focusing on the faults of others while whitewashing and justifying one's own.

Jesus desires our total commitment to the truth and to Him. Hypocrites will find themselves among those to whom Christ will say, 'I never knew you.'

Hypocrisy consists of professing beliefs or virtues that one does not genuinely possess. The primary motivator is pride, and its resulting sin is lying.

We need to exercise humility and forbearance when we deal with the weaknesses of our brethren, restoring them in love as we would expect them to do for us.

God is less impressed in our rote compliance to a set of rules than thoughtful application of godly principles extending justice, mercy, and faith.

The apostle Andrew is a sterling example of humble service. Through Scripture contains only a little about him, his character should encourage us all.

The Imposter Syndrome leads to an identity crisis with an exterior covering or facade that protects exposure of internal feelings of inadequacy.

Those wise in their own eyes, including philosophers, politicians, educators, and religious leaders, have failed in their quest to make the world better.

The world is so full of lying and other forms of deceit that 'bearing false witness' has become a way of life for the vast majority of humanity.

Fasting puts us in a proper humble and contrite frame of mind, allowing God to respond to us, freeing us from our burdens and guiding us into His Kingdom.

We cannot measure how much evil the tongue has perpetrated, for falsehoods disguised as truth have destroyed reputations and even nations.

People react to God's calling differently. The Parable of the Two Sons explains that one's ultimate obedience to God is what really matters!

To call attention to one's prayers, fasting, and offerings is a display of hypocrisy. We are warned about showing off our piety and righteousness.

Our physical family provides a type of what we aspire to become as children of God, realizing that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus Christ.

We have been de-leavened, but we know we still have sin in us that has to be purified through a lengthy process of sanctification.

Pilate's attempt to be neutral in a decision that would have required courage backfired on him, causing him to utterly fail in leadership.

A community can only be established upon a foundation of stability and truth. Our relationships must be based upon God's truth, producing faithfulness.

When we step into the role of the accuser, especially when we dare to accuse our spiritual siblings, we are acting on behalf of Satan the devil.

The intent of fasting is to deflate our pride—the major taproot of sin—the biggest deterrent to a positive relationship with God. Humility heals the breach.

Someone misusing piety to draw attention to themselves to enhance their reputation destroys character and they will not enter the Kingdom of God.

We must grow in personal integrity, providing a witness for the truth to those around them, not needing the crutch of an oath to guarantee our integrity.

Human nature is strongly competitive and full of pride, making judgment inherently problematic. Nevertheless, God wants us to learn to judge with equity.

God's saints must carefully distinguish between judging situations and judging people. Matthew 7:1-2 warns that using flawed human judgment will boomerang.

The caution not to judge is more accurately rendered, 'do not condemn' rather than to evaluate according to their fruits. We risk condemning ourselves.

Jesus taught that fasting is an internal, spiritual good work, done in the inner self. Any other kind of fasting has little or no spiritual value.

The best offering we can present is a humble and contrite heart, attainable through fasting, if done without pride and self-seeking.

None of God's law has been 'done away', though there is not always a literal application. Not every law of God has the same weight of importance.

Self-righteous people tend to trust in their own heart, be wise in their own eyes, justify themselves, despise or disregard others, and judge or condemn others.

Many think keeping Christmas is fine, yet God never tells us to celebrate His Son's birth. Celebrating such an obvious mix of biblical truth and paganism is presumptuous.

Most people think they are moral compared to their peers. Yet we will only begin to grow in character once we compare ourselves to the true standard.