Spiritual Nuggets Hypocrites: Actors in a Religious Drama Matthew 23:27-28 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024) Daily Devotional “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” —Matthew 23:27-28 (NASB) (Historical Context) Hypocrites in Greek Drama The word hypocrite (Greek: ὑποκριτής, hypokritēs, Strong’s G5273) originally referred to an actor in ancient Greek theater—someone who performed by wearing a mask to play a role. In the theater, an actor (hypokritēs) would switch masks to portray different characters, concealing their true identity. The focus was on the external performance, not the actor’s real self. When Jesus called the Pharisees “hypocrites,” He was pointing...
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