Note 2 at Mt 22:18: The word "hypocrites" comes from the Greek word "HUPOKRITES," and it means "an actor under an assumed character (stage-player)" (Strong's Concordance). It was a custom for Greek and Roman actors to use large masks when acting to disguise their true identities. Hence, hypocrisy became "the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness" (American Heritage Dictionary).

In the New Testament, this word is used only in the Synoptic Gospels (the first three Gospels of the New Testament) and is used exclusively by the Lord. It is used fifteen times in Matthew (Mt 6:2, 5, 16; 7:5; 15:7; 16:3; 22:18; 23:13-15, 23, 25, 27, 29; and 24:51), once in Mark (Mr 7:6), and four times in Luke (Lu 6:42, 11:44, 12:56, and 13:15). (See note 6 at Mr 7:6.)