SPECIAL TOPIC: HYPOCRITES

This compound term is literally translated "to judge under." It could have meant (1) a theatrical word for speaking from behind a mask or (2) its earlier usage was "to over interpret." In this context it referred to religious play-acting.

Pharisees acted out religious rites and rituals in order to be praised by other humans, not in order to please God (although I am sure that was one of several motives):

1. gave alms, not only to help the poor, but to be praised by humans, Matt. 6:2

2. prayed in the synagogue and in public to be seen by humans, Matt. 6:5

3. when they fasted they looked disheveled so others would be impressed with their spirituality, Matt. 6:16

4. they tithed the kitchen supplies, but missed the weighty matters of the Law, Matt. 23:23

5. they cleaned the outside of the cup, but not the inside, Matt. 23:25 (cf. Mark 7:1-8)

6. they were self-righteous, Matt. 23:29-30

7. they prevented others from entering the Kingdom, Matt. 23:13-15

8. they tried to trap Jesus with tricky questions, not a search for true wisdom, Matt. 22:15-22

9. they have a special place in hell, Matt. 24:51

10. they were a whitewashed tomb full of uncleanness, Matt. 23:27 (cf. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, p. 415)