“In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”
Luke 12:1-3 (ESV)
What was the Pharisees’ leaven, and why does it matter?
We’re likely to say legalism or self-righteousness, which are true. Yet, Jesus explicitly identifies their leaven as hypocrisy.
What is hypocrisy?
It’s a Greek word (ὑπόκρισις, hypokrisis) that generally means “to answer under,” or, more simply, to speak from under a mask. Think of a stage actor wearing a mask to play a different character. Contextually and etymologically, it means to judge (krinō) from behind (hypo). Consider how Jesus used this word to indict the Pharisees. Jesus accused them of “standing behind” a facade of righteous deeds, “judging” those around them: Jesus called them out for judging others for things they themselves were not doing. They judged others in public for things they secretly broke in private. Their outer masks may have looked good, but their hearts were sinful.
Why does it matter?
Sin thrives in the dark. It loves to parade a false picture in public, but deep inside it’s wicked. It loves applause and control, but hates exposure. In a word, it’s hypocritical. The result? A life of judgment, performance, and control.
How does this apply to us?
While we’re not confronted by real-life Pharisees, we’re not immune to living one way in private and another in public. A healthy Christian life involves pursuing wholeness in both spheres. Yet the problem arises when we stop struggling to do this and start judging others, making ourselves feel superior.
For example, it’s condemning others for gossip or slander while harboring malice in your heart or slandering them in the privacy of your home.
What’s the solution?
The gospel. Jesus didn’t come to make better performers, but to create a new humanity (2 Cor. 5:17). He emptied Himself of glory (Phil. 2:5-8) to transform our hearts, not to receive applause for our actions.
Indeed, our Lord changes us from the inside out, then slowly conforms us through His means of grace (the Bible, prayer, the local church, and more) so that we look not with judging eyes, but with eyes of love, compassion, and care.
According to Jesus and the apostle Paul, a day is coming when all will be revealed (every private word and action will be brought into the light).
May we walk humbly with our God and lovingly with our fellow men. Amen.
— October 22, 2026