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An actor as a hypocrite is not real
1. An actor as a hypocrite is not real
2. Hypocritical distinctions
The ancient Greek word
"ὑποκριτής" ≈ "actor, pretender" and comes from
"ὑποκρίνομαι" ≈ "answer, interpret, play a part as an actor".
Since one cannot determine what someone is thinking, one needs to
compare what someone is saying with what God says to detect important differences. A deceiver would want to change what the people think that God is saying to avoid such a comparison.
A
modern English
"hypocrite" says to
do something but they actually
do something else.
An
ancient Greek
"hypocrite" says to
do something, and they may in fact
do this something, but their
thoughts (
heart) is not in line with what they
say. They are
"pretending". In this case, as a deception to have dominion over other human beings.
[salesperson]
3. Matthew 15:7-8
Matthew 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, [kjv]
υποκριται καλως επροφητευσεν περι υμων ησαιας λεγων [gnt]
15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [kjv]
ο λαος ουτος τοις χειλεσιν με τιμα η δε καρδια αυτων πορρω απεχει απ εμου [gnt]
The Greek word for
"hypocrite" meant
"acting" or
"pretending".
Modern hypocritical behavior: Telling the disciples not to eat without washing their hands while they, in fact, eating without washing their own hands. They were not doing this. Thus, they were not "hypocrites" in the modern sense.
Ancient hypocritical acting or pretending behavior: They believed what they were saying but were "acting" or "pretending" that this tradition was, in fact, important.
Jesus, through Isaiah, indicates the
definition of the
"hypocrite" as someone who
"pretends" to honor God (with their "
lips") but their "
heart" does not do this. They can do exactly what they are saying and are then
not "hypocrites" in the modern sense. Instead, they are just
pretending to honor God.
4. An actor as a hypocrite is not real
Many times Jesus appears to rebuke the Pharisees as "
hypocrites", in the modern sense, because the apply rules to others but not to themselves, reflexively. On closer inspection, and using the definition of "
hypocrite" at the time, this is not quite what is happening.
The ancient Greek word
"ὑποκριτής" ≈ "actor, pretender" and comes from
"ὑποκρίνομαι" ≈ "answer, interpret, play a part as an actor" and comes from two Greek words.
"ῠ̔πο" ≈ "under" as in English words starting with "hypo".
"κρῑ́νω" ≈ "separate".
The meaning went from "
separate" to "
answer" to "
answer" an actor on stage to "
play a part" as in "
acting" or "
pretending".
The modern definition of "
hypocrite" appears to come from a misinterpretation of what Jesus says in Matthew 7:3-5 (plank or splinter in the eye).
When Jesus says "
You hypocrites", instead of the modern sense, it might be better read as "
You actors" as in "
You pretenders" or "
Get real" or "
Get in touch with reality" or "
Get in touch with the truth". Substituting "
actors" or "
pretenders" might make for a better translation than "
hypocrites".
5. Matthew 23:25
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [kjv]
ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι καθαριζετε το εξωθεν του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος εσωθεν δε γεμουσιν εξ αρπαγης και ακρασιας [gnt]
On careful analysis, the religious establishment does not appear to be hypocritical when Jesus uses the term "
hypocrites" (and that is not what the word meant then).
The religious establishment believed what they were doing and saying. However it was not in touch with reality since it ignored the "
Love your neighbor"
When Jesus does describe hypocritical behavior on the part of the religious establishment, he does
not use the word "
hypocrite" as that was not the general meaning then.
6. Matthew 23:25
KJV: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Greek: ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι καθαριζετε το εξωθεν του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος εσωθεν δε γεμουσιν εξ αρπαγης και ακρασιας
Latin: vae vobis scribae et Pharisaei hypocritae quia mundatis quod de foris est calicis et parapsidis intus autem pleni sunt rapina et inmunditia
Wessex: Wa eow bokeres. & farisei liceteras. for-þam ge claensiað þt wið-utan þas calices & disscas. & ge synt innan fule reaflakes & unclaennysse.
Tyndale: Wo be to you scribes and pharises ypocrites which make clene ye vtter syde of the cuppe and of the platter: but within they are full of brybery and excesse.
Luther: Wehe euch, Schriftgelehrte und Pharisäer, ihr Heuchler, die ihr die Becher und Schüsseln auswendig reinlich haltet, inwendig aber ist's voll Raubes und Fraßes.
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [kjv]
ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι καθαριζετε το εξωθεν του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος εσωθεν δε γεμουσιν εξ αρπαγης και ακρασιας [gnt]
… liceteras… claensiað … [wes]
… ypocrites … clene … [ty]
The Old English word
"licettere" ≈ "pretender, fake" but later acquired the perceived
GNT (Greek New Testament) meaning and was eventually replaced by the Middle English word
"ypocrites" ≈ "hypocrite" with the subtle change in meaning made more firm.
7. Matthew 23:25-26
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [kjv]
ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι καθαριζετε το εξωθεν του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος εσωθεν δε γεμουσιν εξ αρπαγης και ακρασιας [gnt]
23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. [kjv]
φαρισαιε τυφλε καθαρισον πρωτον το εντος του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος ινα γενηται και το εκτος αυτου καθαρον [gnt]
The word "
hypocrite", in Greek, appears to mean, literally, "
above criticism" or "
above judgment", and one often hears this explanation. This is not the definition in ancient times.
8. Matthew 23:26
KJV: Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Greek: φαρισαιε τυφλε καθαρισον πρωτον το εντος του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος ινα γενηται και το εκτος αυτων αυτου καθαρον
Latin: Pharisaee caece munda prius quod intus est calicis et parapsidis ut fiat et id quod de foris est mundum
Wessex: Eala þu blinde fariseus. claense aerest þt wið-innan ys. calices & discas (sic) þt hit sye claene þaet wið-uten ys.
9. Practical matter
I have tried taking this verse literally by washing the inside of a bowl but not the outside, which still might have flour (the flower of the wheat) on it. According to this verse, the outside is clean, but that bowl has never passed inspection by the spouse. So much for a literal interpretation.
10. Modern hypocrisy: Do as I say
Let us first look at the modern definition of "
hypocrite" which comes, in part, from the way Jesus uses the word in the
GNT.
Whenever someone says, "
Do as I say, not as I do" they are applying a rule to others but not to them-self. That is, the rule, to them, is not a reflexive rule. In such a case, one might call the person a "
hypocrite" using the modern sense of the word.
11. Modern hypocrisy: Do as I say
To not be a "
hypocrite", in the modern sense of the word, one needs to apply the rule to "
everyone", including "
self", reflexively.
12. Strong's concordance: good and bad aspects
James Strong (1822-1894) was an American biblical scholar who is known for his concordance and dictionary (1890) of Hebrew and Greek words in the
KJV (King James Version). Each word was given a prefix ("
H" for Hebrew, "
G" for Greek, omitted when obvious) and number to identify that word.
13. Strongs - hypocrite
Let us look at the Strong's definitions for "
hypocrite".
- *G5273 *17 ὑποκριτής (hoop-ok-ree-tace') : from G5271; an actor under an assumed character (stage-player), i.e. (figuratively) a dissembler ("hypocrite":--hypocrite.
- υποκριται *13
- Matthew 6:2 ... before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues ...
- Matthew 6:5 ... not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray ...
- Matthew 6:16 ... be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure ...
- Matthew 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of ...
- Matthew 22:18 ... Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
- Matthew 23:13 ... scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom ...
- Matthew 23:15 ... scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea ...
- Matthew 23:23 ... scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint ...
- Matthew 23:25 ... scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside ...
- Matthew 23:27 ... scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited ...
- Matthew 23:29 ... scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs ...
- Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and ...
- Luke 13:15 ... him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one ...
- υποκριτα *2
- Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of ...
- Luke 6:42 ... that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam ...
- υποκριτων *2
- Matthew 24:51 ... him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping ...
- Mark 7:6 ... prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This ...
14. Usage - hypocrite
15. Actors
In GNT (and ancient Greek) times, a "hypocrite" was an actor on a stage. An actor on a stage "acts" out a story that may or may not reflect reality. The truth of which Jesus speaks is the truth of reality, not of some formal logical system.
Notice in the Strong's definition above that the first definition is the definition of the word in GNT times.
If you study the above Strong's definitions closely, something interesting becomes apparent.
Notice that the modern definition of "hypocrite" is added at the end as if that were an actual meaning of the time. It could mean that, but the more broad definition of "actor" might provide more insight.
16. Get real
When Jesus says "You hypocrites", instead of the modern sense, it might be better read as "You actors" as in "You pretenders" or "Get real" or "Get in touch with reality" or "Get in touch with the truth".
Substituting "actors" or "pretenders" might make for a better translation than "hypocrites".
A 1980's or 1990's word often used was that of "poser" as "impostor" or as someone "posing" as something else.
17. Verses
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [kjv]
ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι καθαριζετε το εξωθεν του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος εσωθεν δε γεμουσιν εξ αρπαγης και ακρασιας [gnt]
23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. [kjv]
φαρισαιε τυφλε καθαρισον πρωτον το εντος του ποτηριου και της παροψιδος ινα γενηται και το εκτος αυτου καθαρον [gnt]
Read the verses about cleaning the cup. How should one apply the modern sense of the word "
hypocrite"?
Are the Pharisees saying one thing and doing another?
The Pharisees appear to be saying that one should make the outside of the cup clean and that is exactly what they are doing. Is that hypocritical in the modern sense?
Jesus is saying, "
Get in touch with the truth". First clean the inside, which is the part that is important, and then the outside will take care of itself.
18. An actor as a hypocrite is not real
Many times Jesus appears to rebuke the Pharisees as "
hypocrites", in the modern sense, because the apply rules to others but not to themselves, reflexively. On closer inspection, and using the definition of "
hypocrite" at the time, this is not quite what is happening.
The ancient Greek word
"ὑποκριτής" ≈ "actor, pretender" and comes from
"ὑποκρίνομαι" ≈ "answer, interpret, play a part as an actor" and comes from two Greek words.
"ῠ̔πο" ≈ "under" as in English words starting with "hypo".
"κρῑ́νω" ≈ "separate".
The meaning went from "
separate" to "
answer" to "
answer" an actor on stage to "
play a part" as in "
acting" or "
pretending".
The modern definition of "
hypocrite" appears to come from a misinterpretation of what Jesus says in Matthew 7:3-5 (plank or splinter in the eye).
When Jesus says "
You hypocrites", instead of the modern sense, it might be better read as "
You actors" as in "
You pretenders" or "
Get real" or "
Get in touch with reality" or "
Get in touch with the truth". Substituting "
actors" or "
pretenders" might make for a better translation than "
hypocrites".
19. Hippocratic oath
Note that the "
Hippocratic oath" is not related to the word for "
hypocrite".
 |
Details are left as a future topic.
|
20. Luke: Hypocritical behavior not called hypocritical
There are verses in the GNT where Jesus describes actions as hypocritical. The word "hypocrite" is not used because that word had a different meaning at the time.
As an example, in Matthew 23:1-4 (and following), Jesus describes the actions of the religious establishment as what we would call "hypocritical". He does not use that word "hypocrite". That word had a different meaning.
21. Conflict
Most people do not like conflict. They prefer that things be consistent even those things are not true or even if those things are not based in reality.
22. Consistency
What convinces masses are not facts, and not even invented facts, but only the consistency of the system of which they are presumably part. Hanna Arendt (Political philosopher)
Arendt, H. (1951).
The origins of totalitarianism. 1968 printing. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., p. 49.
23. Teamwork
In the church that follows the "
Love your neighbor" rule but omits the "
Love your God" rule, the "
teamwork" as in "
better together" is often of the nature of "
namby-pamby consensus and bogus good cheer". A "
false prophet" is a prophet who tells the boss, and others, what they want to hear.
To see real teamwork, in the McCarthy sense, one can read the accounts of the true prophets, not one of which had not been killed - as related by Jesus.
Matthew 33:6 uses the ancient Greek word
"φιλουσιν" ≈ "love" from which we get the word "
philo" as in "
philosophy" or "
Philadelphia".
Luke 11:43 uses the ancient Greek word
"αγάπη" ≈ "love" from which we get the word "
agape".
Some people want to make a big theological distinction between them while others, using the above verses as one example, consider them more or less having the same meaning.
 |
Details are left as a future topic.
|
24. John 12:43
John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. [kjv]
ηγαπησαν γαρ την δοξαν των ανθρωπων μαλλον ηπερ την δοξαν του θεου [gnt]
John uses the Greek word for "
agape" to describe men.
25. John 12:43
KJV: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Greek: ηγαπησαν γαρ την δοξαν των ανθρωπων μαλλον ηπερ την δοξαν του θεου
Latin: dilexerunt enim gloriam hominum magis quam gloriam Dei
Wessex: Hyo lufedon manne wuldor; swiðere þanne godes wuldor.
Wycliffe: for thei loueden the glorie of men, more than the glorie of God.
Luther: denn sie hatten lieber die Ehre bei den Menschen denn die Ehre bei Gott.
Slavonic: возлюбиша бо паче славу человеческую, неже славу Божию.
Russian: ибо возлюбили больше славу человеческую, нежели славу Божию.
Spanish: Porque amaban más la gloria de los hombres que la gloria de Dios.
26. Luke 11:44
Luke 11:44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. [kjv]
27. Luke 11:44
KJV: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
Greek: ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι εστε ως τα μνημεια τα αδηλα και οι ανθρωποι οι περιπατουντες επανω ουκ οιδασιν
28. Luke 11:45 Lawyers
Luke 11:45 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. [kjv]
αποκριθεις δε τις των νομικων λεγει αυτω διδασκαλε ταυτα λεγων και ημας υβριζεις [gnt]
The lawyers try to distance themselves from the religious leaders.
Some jokes about lawyers relate to the following.
Don't expect to get into heaven without Jesus as your advocate. You cannot get a lawyer there because there are no lawyers anywhere near heaven.
Don't expect to stay out of hell by getting a lawyer there. There are plenty of lawyers there but they all work for Satan.
(fill in your favorite lawyer joke here)
29. Luke 11:45
KJV: Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
Greek: αποκριθεις δε τις των νομικων λεγει αυτω διδασκαλε ταυτα λεγων και ημας υβριζεις
Latin: respondens autem quidam ex legis peritis ait illi magister haec dicens etiam nobis contumeliam facis
Wessex: Ða andswerede him sum lage-gleaw. lareow teonan þu wercst us mid þisse sage.
Wycliffe: But oon of the wise men of the lawe answeride, and seide to hym, Maystir, thou seiynge these thingis, also to vs doist dispit.
Tyndale: Then answered one of the lawears and sayd vnto him: Master thus sayinge thou puttest vs to rebuke also.
Luther: Da antwortete einer von den Schriftgelehrten und sprach zu ihm: Meister, mit den Worten schmähest du uns auch.
Russian: На это некто из законников сказал Ему: Учитель! говоря это, Ты и нас обижаешь.
Spanish: Y respondiendo uno de los doctores de la ley, le dice: Maestro, cuando dices esto, también nos afrentas a nosotros.
30. Luke 11:46
Luke 11:46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. [kjv]
Jesus points out the hypocritical behavior of the lawyers but, again, does not use the word "
hypocrite" (in the Greek) because that word did not have that meaning at that time.
31. Luke 11:46
KJV: And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Greek: ο δε ειπεν και υμιν τοις νομικοις ουαι οτι φορτιζετε τους ανθρωπους φορτια δυσβαστακτα και αυτοι ενι των δακτυλων υμων ου προσψαυετε τοις φορτιοις
32. Luke 11:47-49
Luke 11:47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. [kjv]
11:48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. [kjv]
11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: [kjv]
Throughout history, those who were killed or vilified at the time were later extolled and honored - after they were dead - with monuments, etc.
Something similar happens to artists whose art was not appreciated until long after they passed away.
33. Luke 11:47
KJV: Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Greek: ουαι υμιν οτι οικοδομειτε τα μνημεια των προφητων οι δε πατερες υμων απεκτειναν αυτους
34. Luke 11:48
KJV: Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
Greek: αρα μαρτυρειτε μαρτυρες εστε και συνευδοκειτε τοις εργοις των πατερων υμων οτι αυτοι μεν απεκτειναν αυτους υμεις δε οικοδομειτε αυτων τα μνημεια
35. Luke 11:49
KJV: Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
Greek: δια τουτο και η σοφια του θεου ειπεν αποστελω εις αυτους προφητας και αποστολους και εξ αυτων αποκτενουσιν και εκδιωξουσιν διωξουσιν
36. Shoot the messenger
37. End of page
John 18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? [kjv]
απεκριθη αυτω ιησους ει κακως ελαλησα μαρτυρησον περι του κακου ει δε καλως τι με δερεις [gnt]
