Topical Encyclopedia
Pretense, in a biblical context, refers to the act of pretending or putting on a false appearance, often to deceive others or to gain some advantage. The Bible addresses the issue of pretense in various passages, highlighting its moral and spiritual implications.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, pretense is often associated with hypocrisy and deceit. The prophets frequently condemned the Israelites for their insincere worship and false piety.
Isaiah 29:13 states, "Therefore the Lord said: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.'" This verse underscores the disconnect between outward religious expressions and the true condition of the heart.
Jeremiah also speaks against the pretense of the people, particularly the leaders, who claim to follow God while their actions reveal otherwise.
Jeremiah 7:9-10 questions, "Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, 'We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations'?"
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, Jesus frequently rebukes the Pharisees and religious leaders for their pretense. In
Matthew 23:27-28 , Jesus declares, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Here, Jesus criticizes the leaders for their outward show of righteousness that masks their inner corruption.
The Apostle Paul also addresses pretense in his letters. In
Philippians 1:15-18 , Paul acknowledges that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. He writes, "The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice." Paul recognizes that even when the motives are not pure, the proclamation of Christ can still have a positive impact.
Moral and Spiritual ImplicationsPretense is fundamentally at odds with the biblical call to sincerity and truthfulness. The Scriptures emphasize that God desires truth in the inward being (
Psalm 51:6) and that believers are to worship Him in spirit and truth (
John 4:24). Pretense undermines genuine faith and can lead to spiritual blindness and self-deception.
The Bible warns against the dangers of pretense, urging believers to examine their hearts and motives.
James 1:26 cautions, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless." This highlights the importance of aligning one's actions and words with a sincere heart.
In summary, pretense is a significant concern in the biblical narrative, as it reflects a disconnect between outward appearances and inner reality. The Bible calls for authenticity, integrity, and a heart fully devoted to God, free from the deceit of pretense.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) Alt. of Pretence.
Greek
4392. prophasis -- apretense... a
pretense. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: prophasis Phonetic Spelling:
(prof'-as-is) Short Definition: a pretext, an excuse Definition: a
...3132. manteuomai -- to divine
... From a derivative of mainomai (meaning a prophet, as supposed to rave through
inspiration); to divine, ie Utter spells (underpretense of foretelling -- by...
5573. pseudologos -- speaking falsely, lying
... 5573 (an adjective, derived from 5571 , "false,pretense" and 3004 , "speaking to
a ") -- properly, a liar passing on because working with (used only in 1 Tim 4...
Library
Pusillus of Lamasba Said: "I Believe that Baptism is not unto...
... except within the Catholic Church. Whatsoever is without the Catholic Church
is merepretense." [1860] 77. This indeed is true, that...
Whether Since Christ's Passion the Legal Ceremonies Can be...
... Hence he maintained that after the Passion the apostles never observed the legal
ceremonies in real earnest; but only by a kind of piouspretense, lest, to wit...
Whether all Dissimulation is a Sin?
... Reply to Objection 1: As Augustine says (De QQ. Evang. ii), "To pretend is not always
a lie: but only when thepretense has no signification, then it is a lie....
Whether Christ Should have Appeared to the Disciples "In Another...
... He showed Himself to them in body such as He was in their minds: for, because He
was as yet a stranger to faith in their hearts, He madepretense of going on...
Meekness and Rest
... brings. Then also he will get deliverance from the burden ofpretense.... life.
Advertising is largely based upon this habit ofpretense....
In Short, the New Education is as Harsh as the Old...
... It is because the humane father thinks soldiers wrong that they are forbidden; there
is nopretense, there can be nopretense, that the boy would think so....
David's Lord
... salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places
at feasts: they which devour widows' houses, and for apretense make long...
"Woe unto You, Because Ye Build the Tombs of the Prophets, and...
... For in proof that the condemnation was apretense, Luke saith, ye do allow because
ye build; for, "Woe unto you," saith He, "for ye build the sepulchers of the...
Matt. xxiii. 14
... hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for apretense make long prayers:
therefore ye shall receive greater damnation." [2676]....
Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and...
... [The term "Rabbi" means master or teacher.] ^c 47 who { ^b 40 they that} devour
widows' houses, and for apretense make long prayers; these shall receive...
Thesaurus
Pretense (9 Occurrences)... (n.) Alt. of Pretence. Multi-Version Concordance
Pretense (9 Occurrences).
... For you
devour widows' houses, and as a
pretense you make long prayers.
...Widows (33 Occurrences)
... For you devour widows' houses, and as apretense you make long prayers.... Mark 12:40
those who devour widows' houses, and for apretense make long prayers....
Devour (118 Occurrences)
... For you devour widows' houses, and as apretense you make long prayers.... Mark 12:40
those who devour widows' houses, and for apretense make long prayers....
Pretence (5 Occurrences)
... of what is deceptive or hypocritical; deception by showing what is unreal and
concealing what is real; false show; simulation; as,pretense of illness; under...
Condemnation (30 Occurrences)
... For you devour widows' houses, and as apretense you make long prayers.... (WEY). Mark
12:40 those who devour widows' houses, and for apretense make long prayers....
Greater (219 Occurrences)
... For you devour widows' houses, and as apretense you make long prayers.... Mark 12:40
those who devour widows' houses, and for apretense make long prayers....
Lengthy (4 Occurrences)
... Lengthy (4 Occurrences). Mark 12:40 those who devour widows' houses, and for apretense
make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." (See NIV)....
Dissemble (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To put on the semblance of; to makepretense of; to simulate; to feign.
3. (vi) To conceal the real fact, motives, or sentiments...
Appearance's (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Appearance's (2 Occurrences). Mark 12:40 those who
devour widows' houses, and for apretense make long prayers....
Offer (403 Occurrences)
... Mark 12:40 those who devour widows' houses, and for apretense make long prayers.
These will receive greater condemnation." (See NAS)....
Resources
What does the Bible say about sincerity? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God kill Ananias and Sapphira for lying? | GotQuestions.orgDid God divorce Israel? | GotQuestions.orgPretense: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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