Hypocrisy: Wearing a Mask Before God. Few charges sting more than “hypocrite.” Even unbelievers instinctively know that pretending to be righteous while harboring unrepentant sin is spiritual fraud. Jesus reserved His fiercest rebukes—not for prostitutes or tax collectors—but for religious actors who loved applause more than obedience. In Scripture, hypocrisy is never a petty fault; it is soul-rot that poisons witness, hardens hearts, and invites judgment.