HYPOCRISY. — From ὑποκρισία, it signifies etymologically pretense: in actual usage it denotes the simulation of goodness, humility, or holiness in order to conceal one’s true feelings and ingratiate oneself with others.
The actions performed by the hypocrite are pure and simple affectation, poisoned by selfishness and ambition, eager for honour and covetousness. Hypocrisy, in fact, is nothing other than the direct consequence—along with boasting and ostentation—of vainglory, which is the inordinate love of others’ esteem; and vainglory, in turn, together with conceit and ambition, is the direct offspring of pride, which is the perversion of that legitimate sentiment that leads one to value the good within man and to seek others’ esteem within the necessary bounds for maintaining good relations with one’s fellow men.
Sacred Scripture considers hypocrisy particularly in the realm of religion. In this case, the extreme gravity of the sin lies in the fact that God and piety are exploited by the hypocrite for his vicious ends, as did those Pharisees—from whom the hypocrite derives the epithet “Pharisee”—who were sternly judged by Jesus Christ.