Hypocrisy is to claim to have standards that you don’t actually live by. A dishonest person is rarely overtly evil. Instead, they subconsciously twist and contort reality so that, in their own minds, they are better than they really are. They want to feel good, but they are unwilling to actually be good. They will engage in astonishing levels of deception to preserve the polished shell necessary to convince others that they are more than they really are. This fuels their self-delusion, and prevents them from having to contend with the true state of their own heart.
Jesus railed against hypocrisy. Why did he spare no expense in chastising those with this characteristic? It is because of its high eternal cost.
When you refuse to recognize reality, you cut yourself off from any potential improvement because you close all channels to God correcting you. Because you remove yourself from relieving the cause of your affliction, you seal yourself to it.
Hypocrites can’t be reclaimed because they cut themselves off from anything that could be used to help them self-correct:
7 Behold, verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but behold such shall be reclaimed;
8 But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world. 9 Wherefore, let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness before me. (D&C 50)
Hypocrites cause a great deal of trouble to themselves and others:
12 Worthless liars go around
13 winking and giving signals to deceive others.
14 They are always thinking up something cruel and evil, and they stir up trouble.
15 But they will be struck by sudden disaster and left without a hope. (Proverbs 6, CEV)
Hypocrites have a standard reaction when confronted with evidence that they are not what they pretend to be. Like slugs exposed to salt, their convulsions are violent but predictable. They will:
- Deny. They will engage in immediate and blatant lies to avoid what is painfully obvious.
- Deflect. They will twist and contort reality to make things someone else’s fault.
- Lash out. They will get astonishingly angry.
Jesus’ interactions with the Pharisees provide ample examples of each of these reactions. Let’s just look at one of each. There are many more. Deny:
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. (John 8)
Deflect:
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? (John 8)
Lash out:
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8)
What is in your heart? What do you desire? An apple with a rotten core will disintegrate from the inside out, but those with desires single to the glory of God will find themselves full of light that permeates them and radiates from them. Seek not to feel good, but to actually be good.