The Most Dangerous Game

What is the most dangerous sin? The most often cited sins include homosexuality, abortion, murder, stealing, and adultery. These sins seem to mark the frontline in the battle between the church and the secular world. This is not an incorrect list. These sins are certainly grievous and wicked. Hell is populated with all sorts of homosexuals and murderers and adulterers. However, there is a sin that is far more dangerous than any of these, hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is more subtle and deceitful than the flamboyant wickedness that is more easily seen. Hypocrisy is a veil that conceals the indwelling sin. Hypocrisy is the enabler of the flesh to continue in secret sin. It is a barrier to the gospel, and a retardant to spiritual growth. It has its roots in pride, and blossoms forth into the fruit of unbelief. Hypocrisy is a double edged sword of callousness and self-deception.

Some of Jesus’ harshest words were directed at the hypocritical Pharisees.

¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ¹⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
¹⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
(Matthew 23:13-15, New King James Version)

²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
(Matthew 23:25-28, New King James Version)

⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:50-51, New King James Version)


⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14, New King James Version)

My first response to Jesus’ powerful words is, “I sure am glad I’m not a hypocritical scoundrel like those Pharisees.”

That’s the next dangerous aspect of hypocrisy. We all have it to a certain degree, but some of us don’t even realize it. We are naturally good at finding the speck in our friend’s eye, but we have a much harder time with the log in our own.

The deceitfulness of sin has a hardening effect (Heb. 3:13). A particular sin, be it lust, lying, stealing, pornography, rebellion, or whatever, may start small, but due to our fallen sin-bent nature our lawlessness results in further lawlessness (Rom. 6:19). We become accustomed to our secret sin monster. It becomes a part of us, a element of our lifestyle and personality. Our hearts are hardened to the conviction of the Spirit, and our conscience is seared (1Tim. 4:2).

We continue to live our lives pretending to be righteous, so much so that we even fool ourselves. Our shame, fear, and pride inhibit us from openly confessing our sins, to others, to God, and to ourselves. Instead, we clean the outside of the cup, avoiding the painful introspection and examination of our heart. The longer we continue to put on this façade the more self-deceived we become.

Hypocrisy is a hindrance to the gospel. It creates an attitude of self-reliance and rejection of the necessity of a Savior. Hypocrisy creates empty shells just going through the motions of religion without any sincerity. These tares can be found sitting in the pews around us. They are deceived into believing they are saved when they are not. False assurance of salvation is a very dangerous game with eternally devastating results. We must continually test ourselves to ensure that our faith (and subsequent works) is genuine (2 Cor. 13:5).

Hypocrisy is also an obstacle to the spiritual growth of believers. We harbor secret sins, not wanting to face the shame and apparent consequences of open repentance. Or, we want to continue our sin because we enjoy it. We know the truth, but we choose to put ourselves back in bondage after we have already been made free. Our secret lusts and pride stunts our growth and impedes our walk.

The opposite of hypocrisy is transparency and accountability. Confess your sins to God and to your Christian brothers/sisters. Repent and turn away from your secret sin. Seek after God and His righteousness. Submit that area to Him and to the standards of His word. God will forgive (1John 1:9). He will replace the shame with righteousness and hope. God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud hypocrite (James 4:6). Therefore, we must humble ourselves and own up to the sinful wretch that we truly are. We must examine ourselves and uproot the sin that is veiled by our hypocrisy. We must lay down our pride and submit every aspect of our lives, thoughts, actions, motives and attitudes to Christ. It won’t be a fun process and it ain’t going to be easy, but it is an essential step in our sanctification.

Hypocrisy is a dangerous game that none of us can afford to play.

for His glory,

DJ