Back in the Bible times, what was considered a hypocrite? (see additional details)?

Question

Back in the Bible times, Jesus called the Pharisees Hypocrites. Most of us realize what it means in modern-day terms.

But back in Biblical times, the learned Pharisees understood what a hypocrite meant. So does anyone know what that word "hypocrite" actually meant at that time?

Answer 1

A person who pretends to be what he is not; a person whose actions are out of harmony with his words.

Although words from the Hebrew root cha·neph′ are rendered “hypocrite” or “hypocrisy” in some translations, such as the King James Version, Douay, and Leeser, other translators have variously rendered these words “profane” (Yg), “impious” (Ro), “godless” (RS), and “apostate” (NW). According to A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament by Brown, Driver, and Briggs (1980, pp. 337, 338), cha·neph′, when used as an adjective, may be defined as “profane, irreligious . . . , godless”; or, as a verb, “be polluted, profane . . . , inclining away from right.” In the Scriptures cha·neph′ appears in parallel with those forgetting God (Job 8:13), the wicked (Job 20:5), evildoers (Isa 9:17), and it is used in contrast with the upright and innocent ones.—Job 17:8; .

The Greek word rendered “hypocrite” (hy·po·kri·tes′) means “one who answers,” as well as meaning a stage actor. Greek and Roman actors employed large masks with mechanical devices for amplifying the voice. Hence, the Greek word hy·po·kri·tes′ came to be used in a metaphoric sense to apply to one playing false, or one putting on a pretense. The same word appears in the Greek Septuagint at Job 34:30; 36:13. Hypocrites are “unfaithful ones” (compare Lu 12:46 with Mt 24:51), and “hypocrisy” (hy·po′kri·sis), as used in the Scriptures, may also denote “wickedness” and “cunning.”—Compare Mt 22:18; Mr 12:15; Lu 20:23; see also Ga 2:13, where hy·po′kri·sis is rendered “pretense.”

Jesus Christ identified as hypocrites persons who make gifts of mercy with showy display, who pray and fast to be seen of men, and who pick on the strawlike faults of their brothers but do nothing about removing their own rafterlike faults. Christ classified as such those who claimed to be God’s servants but who failed to discern the significance of the time in which they were living and the events that were occurring, while readily drawing conclusions from the appearance of earth and sky as to what the weather would be like.—Mt 6:2, 5, 16; 7:1-5; Lu 6:42; 12:54-56.

Not only did the Son of God while on earth denounce the religious leaders of Israel as hypocrites but he also stated his reasons for doing so. They rendered mere lip service to the Creator, making the word of God invalid because of their traditions. (Mt 15:1, 6-9; Mr 7:6, 7) Their actions were out of harmony with their words. (Mt 23:1-3) The scribes and Pharisees not only deliberately refused to avail themselves of the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of the heavens, but they added to their sin by trying to hinder others from doing so. They put forth every effort to convert someone, only to make him twice as much a subject for Gehenna as they were. They were sticklers for the little things of the Law but disregarded the weightier matters of it—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. As hypocrites, they possessed only a seemingly clean outward appearance; inside they were full of immoderateness. Like whitewashed graves, outwardly beautiful, they appeared righteous to men, but inside they were “full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” They built the graves of the prophets and decorated the memorial tombs of the righteous ones, claiming that they would not have shed the blood of such ones. However, their course of action proved them to be just like their murderous forefathers. (Mt 23:13-36) The teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees was actually hypocrisy.—Mt 16:6, 12; Lu 12:1; see also Lu 13:11-17.

A striking example of a hypocritical course was that followed by the disciples of the Pharisees and the party followers of Herod when approaching Jesus on the tax question. First they resorted to flattery, saying: “Teacher, we know you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth.” Then they posed the catch question: “Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not?” Appropriately Jesus referred to them as hypocrites, since they were not really desirous of getting an answer to their question but merely raised it with a view to trapping Jesus in his speech.—Mt 22:15-22; Lu 20:19-26;

Answer 2

The sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6) shows that one mark of hypocrisy was an outward show of spirituality (religious devotion or keeping of the law), but no authentic inward spirituality consisting of humility and a desire to be pleasing to God rather than to receive the praise of people. The same description of hypocrisy continues in Matthew 23, except Jesus is very clear that the outside was clean while the inside was filthy; and they didn't practice what they preached.

Answer 3

A hypocrite in those days would probably have meant someone who was obsessed with passing judgement and upholding the laws (not natural laws but a sort of legal system). They would be more concerned with punishing sin than healing the cause of the sin. Someone who is self-righteous. They would be pretending to know gods wishes.

But it could also boil down to someone who blindly follows anything else other than god. That includes following doctrines. hint hint

Answer 4

It meant then what it means now: someone who did different than what he said. The Pharisees thought they were shoo-ins to paradise because they kept the law. Read John 8. Where did they know to find a prostitute "caught in the act"? As Paul the ex-Pharisee said, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead (Romans 7:7-8).

Answer 5

Back in the day, a "hypocrite" was an actor: somebody who put on a theatrical mask to better portray a part in a play.

Jesus was calling their portrayal of righteousness and religious perfection a bad act!

Answer 6

Actor

Answer 7

An actor or someone portraying under false pretenses, about
what it means today.

Answer 8

Enter the house of G-d...study the word...pat each other on the back....but NOT having the love or spirit of G-d in their hearts.

"You have no love for G-d in your hearts" Jesus Christ.

Blessings
David

Answer 9

Jesus didn't speak English.
Pascal's wager, monkeys.

Answer 10

pretty much as today say one thing and do another.