Some people wear masks, not the kind seen at a costume party, but the kind that hides their true selves.
They pretend to be something they are not, putting on a show for the world while their hearts tell a different story.
The Bible has a lot to say about pretenders—those who act righteous but live dishonestly, those who claim to love God but serve themselves, and those who deceive others for personal gain.
What does God think about people who pretend?
And how can believers make sure they are living authentically before Him?
Let’s explore what the Bible says about pretenders and how to live a life of truth.
The Danger of Hypocrisy
One of the strongest warnings in the Bible is against hypocrisy.
A hypocrite is someone who pretends to be righteous while hiding sin in their heart.
Jesus often confronted religious leaders who appeared holy on the outside but were corrupt on the inside.
In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus spoke directly to them.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
These religious leaders loved attention and praise, but their hearts were far from God.
They put on a show of holiness, yet their actions revealed selfishness, greed, and pride.
Jesus didn’t hold back in calling them out, showing that God values honesty over appearance.
Pretending to be good while living in sin is not just misleading—it is offensive to God.
God Sees Beyond the Act
Pretenders might fool people, but they can never fool God.
While humans look at outward appearances, God looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 makes this clear.
The Lord does not look at the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
No matter how well someone hides their true motives, God knows the truth.
A person may say the right words, dress the right way, and do all the right things in front of others, but if their heart is not right with God, it is all meaningless.
God desires genuine faith, not an outward show of religion.
The Pharisees: A Warning Against Religious Pretenders
The Pharisees were the perfect example of religious pretenders.
They followed the law carefully, gave to the poor, and prayed in public—but they did it for the wrong reasons.
In Matthew 6:1, Jesus warned against this kind of fake righteousness.
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.
If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Jesus made it clear that performing religious duties just to gain approval from others is empty.
True faith is not about impressing people—it is about having a sincere relationship with God.
Matthew 6:5 gives another example of how the Pharisees misused prayer.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
They were not praying to connect with God.
They were praying to be noticed.
This is the danger of religious pretending—it turns faith into a performance instead of a personal connection with God.
False Prophets: Pretenders Who Lead Others Astray
Not all pretenders are only fooling themselves.
Some pretend to be followers of God while leading others into deception.
The Bible calls these people false prophets.
They claim to speak for God, but their teachings are filled with lies.
Matthew 7:15-16 gives a warning about them.
Watch out for false prophets.
They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
By their fruit, you will recognize them.
False prophets look good on the outside.
They seem kind, wise, and trustworthy.
But inside, they are dangerous, leading people away from God’s truth.
Jesus tells believers to recognize them by their fruit.
A true follower of God will live a life of love, humility, and obedience.
A false teacher will eventually show selfishness, greed, or dishonesty.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns that people will follow these pretenders.
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
People love to hear things that make them feel good.
False teachers take advantage of this, telling people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.
That is why it is so important to test every teaching against God’s Word.
The Danger of Pretending to Follow Christ
Some people pretend to follow Christ but never truly surrender their lives to Him.
They go to church, say all the right things, and even serve in ministries, but their hearts are not truly devoted to God.
Jesus gives a sobering warning in Matthew 7:21-23.
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?”
Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you.
Away from me, you evildoers!”
These people thought they were following Christ, but their faith was only on the surface.
They were more focused on religious activity than on truly knowing Jesus.
A person can look like a Christian, talk like a Christian, and act like a Christian, but without a true relationship with Jesus, none of it matters.
Living a Life of Authentic Faith
Instead of pretending, God calls His people to live with honesty and sincerity.
Psalm 51:6 says, Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
God values truth, not just in words, but in the deepest parts of a person’s heart.
James 1:22 encourages believers to put faith into action.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
Faith is not about appearances.
It is about real transformation.
Believers should strive to live in a way that reflects their love for God, not just when others are watching, but in every moment of life.
How to Avoid Being a Pretender
The first step to avoiding a life of pretense is self-examination.
2 Corinthians 13:5 gives this instruction.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
Honest reflection helps reveal whether a person is truly following God or just going through the motions.
The second step is humility.
Pride leads people to pretend, but humility allows them to be real.
1 Peter 5:6 reminds believers to trust God instead of trying to impress others.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.
The third step is a personal relationship with Christ.
Pretending fades away when faith becomes personal and real.
John 15:5 emphasizes the importance of staying connected to Jesus.
I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
True faith is not about looking good on the outside.
It is about staying connected to Christ and letting Him transform the heart.
Final Thoughts
The Bible warns against pretending to be something you are not.
Whether it is religious hypocrisy, false teaching, or an empty profession of faith, God sees beyond appearances.
He desires people to be real with Him, to live honestly, and to seek a true relationship with Jesus.
Instead of pretending, believers should strive to live with authenticity, humility, and sincere devotion to God.
At the end of the day, the question is not how others see you—but how God sees your heart.