So what is a ...
HYPOCRITE ?
Jesus defined and identified true greatness vs. hypocrites:
"....He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Not your grand superior, his excellency, or holy eminence.... "your servant". Which means he/she is truly concerned with you, your needs, your hopes and your welfare and his or her position of leadership is secondary to his honest commitment, love and protection of those he leads. Otherwise.... he/she is a hypocrite. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Hypocrites are narcissistic. They boast, prance, seek the limelight, are self-centered, covet titles, recognition and exalt themselves above their brethren, employers or employees.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Hypocrites are more interested in harnessing up people to their own agendas, their own entourage, their own income and their own welfare than they are in making their followers successful or getting them more secure, more successful and into the kingdom of heaven.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Hypocrites constantly emphasize their own needs, desires, security, pleasure, comfort, incomes and authority, but have little or no sincere interest in the needs of the givers, their followers, staff, clients, customers or anyone else. They motivate others, even the poor and widows, to sacrifice but do little sacrificing themselves.... all the while making a show of flowery, impressive prayer.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Matt.23:11-15. Hypocrites are often very successful in recruiting people to their cause ... as opposed to the cause of their employer, their customers or the cause of Christ and the salvation of souls. They are often very adept planners, promoters, and builders of business ... for their own sake... not for other people's good or God's glory. A hypocrite is an insincere fake.
The opposite of hypocrisy is consistent transparency. Since no one, except Jesus, little children and the severely retarded, is completely transparent and exactly what they appear to be, I suppose we are all a bit deceptive and therefore a bit hypocrital. But to constantly pretend to be what we are not is beyond the pale and is the same thing as lying and a true hypocrite.
