Play-acting

"Middle voice from hupo and krino; to decide (speak or act) under a false part, i.e. (figuratively) dissemble (pretend) -- feign." -- Strong's Exhaustive Concordance


"ὑποκρίνομαι;

1. to take up another's statements in reference to what one has decided for oneself (middle κρίνομαι), i. e. to reply, answer (Homer, Herodotus, others).

2. to make answer (speak) on the stage, i. e. to personate anyone, play a part (often so from Demosthenes down). Hence,

3. to simulate, feign, pretend (from Demosthenes and Polybius down)..." -- Thayer's Greek Lexicon



"HUPOKRISIS...primarily denotes a reply, and answer...; then, play-acting as the actors spoke in dialogue; hence pretence, hypocrisy..." -- Vine's Expository Dictionary


It's a word Jesus used a lot, calling-out the social/political/religious fakers of His time. How are "religious" pretenders of our time, false in their hearts toward God, any less false in their "spin" towards man (His creation) and government (His rule) ?

And not those only who deliberately set their hearts to deceive. Every one of us who practices the scriptural discipline of monitoring our words, thoughts, and deeds to measure them against and keep them in line with Jesus' teachings, learns to keep a keen eye out for hints of hypocrisy. The beloved teacher Bob Mumford said one time he was convinced that any of us could turn hypocrite in an hour...or a minute.

I think of this every time I handle money. Every American bill and coin I pass proudly boasts, "In God We Trust." And every time I see that "national motto," I know in my heart, "No, we don't." Hypocrisy.

Of all Jesus' unchanging and unrelenting words to men, maybe the most relevant to America are those He addressed to social/political/religious fakers: "Woe to you !!"

If no one else hears Him, may the Spirit at least awaken the CHRISTIANS of America to repent !