Why do I pretend to be something or someone I’m not? - Pretending - TouchPoints

Matthew 23:27-28“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Mark 12:38-40Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public.”

Pride—We want to look honorable and important in the eyes of our peers. But looking honorable and having an honorable heart are two different things.

Matthew 14:9Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.

Embarrassment—When we are embarrassed to admit our foolish actions, we may be tempted to deceive others into thinking we’re happy with our decision.

1 Thessalonians 2:5Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!

Flattery—We may use flattery to pretend we like someone in order to get something from them.

Genesis 27:15-19, 35Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which were there in the house, and gave them to her younger son, Jacob. . . . Then she gave Jacob the delicious meal, including freshly baked bread. So Jacob took the food to his father. “My father?” he said. “Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are you—Esau or Jacob?” Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son.” . . . But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.”

Selfishness—We may disguise our true motives in order to better our position.