Christian/Religion Studies

Hypocrite:

The person who feigns what he or she believes. The act of "stage playing". "Do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do. The word hypocrite is taken from stage-players, who act the part of others, or speak not their own sentiments, but the sentiments of others. It means here, and in the New Testament generally, those who dissemble or hide their real sentiments, and assume or express other feelings than their own; those who, for purposes of ostentation, or gain, or applause, put on the appearance of religion. It is probable that such persons, when they were about to bestow alms, caused a trumpet to be sounded, professedly to call the poor together to receive it, but really to call the people to attend to it, or perhaps it may mean that they should not make a great noise about it, like sounding a trumpet. " - Barnes' Notes On The New Testament by Albert Barnes.  The hypocrite pretends that he is someone that he is not. A pretender. Part of the work that Jesus did was show the public who the false teachers were. Sadly we can see that many  hypocrites do not even realise that they are teaching false doctrines and traditions. Some believe that they are who they pretend to be, at least of the surface. The actor "plays" his or her part. A "part" in a play is not real and those whoa re hypocrites are sometimes compared with actors, meaning people who pretend. The hypocrite is not sincere in his or her ways or thoughts. Hypocrite is one of the harshest words that Jesus used, and it was used in a definite manner with meaning. In the Greek theater the actor wore a face mask imitating the ways and character of the person that he is playing, but an actor is obviously not being their true self. The hypocrites that Jesus spoke of were like actors of the Greek theater, actors who paraded their charitable deeds in the full view of the public giving a "view" of themselves. But this was not the real person, it was just acting for the public. Matthew chapter 6, verse 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  The above verses would be text that we should meditate on as they are a good example of the true Christian and how we should behave. The hypocrite is two-persons, the one that is the true person is hidden from the public view. The other person is just the acting for the public to see. One of the greatest claims of evil against the church is that of the people within being hypocrites. Often from the "outside" of the church it may look that way even if the church  members are all good people. But sadly there is much testimony of church hypocrites. They hypocrites in the church. A preacher (Pastor, priest etc) who is a hypocrite is a bad example. Hypocrites seem to judge others but cannot see well due to the plank in their own eye.