{"id":9887,"date":"2019-02-15T08:00:58","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T13:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainbibleteachers.com\/blog\/?p=9887"},"modified":"2026-07-17T11:43:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:43:42","slug":"hypocrisy-is-a-heart-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainbibleteachers.com\/blog\/hypocrisy-is-a-heart-issue.htm","title":{"rendered":"Hypocrisy is a Heart Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hypocrites<\/a><\/p>\n

Hypocrisy isn’t new<\/a> to the day in which we live because the reasons for it are part of the human condition — hearts far from God. In Matthew 15:7-9 we read of Jesus quoting from the Old Testament about the hypocrisy in Isaiah’s day, likening it to that which Jesus saw in the leaders and teachers of the law in His day.<\/p>\n

Heart Issues Leading to Hypocrisy<\/h2>\n

Jesus defined hypocrites as people who “honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matt. 15:7-9). Think about heart issues that can cause us to be far from God.<\/p>\n

Depraved Hearts<\/p>\n

When we entertain sin in our own hearts and lives yet teach others to live upright, we’re hypocrites.<\/p>\n

Defensive Hearts<\/p>\n

When we struggle with the sin in our own hearts and lives yet judge others who do the same while pretending not to have the problem, we’re hypocrites.<\/p>\n

Desperate Hearts<\/p>\n

When we say what we know people want to hear yet do something else or do what will make us look good in order to gain their approval yet not really mean it, such people-pleasing behavior is hypocritical.<\/p>\n

Distracted Hearts<\/p>\n

When we get pulled away by our busyness, even in serving, and focus more on what we do than who we are, we’re heading down the road to hypocrisy.<\/p>\n

Divided Hearts<\/p>\n

When we’re consumed with self — what feels good to us and how we look to others, or when we’re focused on what we accomplish more than being sold out to God — what pleases Him and makes Him look good, then we’ll be quicker to yield to our hypocritical tendencies.<\/p>\n

Hypocrisy is a Heart Issue and God Sees Right Through It<\/h2>\n

As Bible teachers we might think we can get away with our hypocrisy. Students don’t usually see our day-to-day lives. And, unless we’re honest with them, they don’t see what’s in our hearts. Here are some truths we need to keep in mind:<\/p>\n