By: Obed Pineda
In 1886, Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson published his globally renowned novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Stevenson’s intriguing tale of a man shared by two alter egos, who are drastic opposites of one another, has transcended generations, leaving an indelible imprint in history. This one hundred and thirty-five year old story is still used today by modern storytellers in comic books and the silver screens with characters such as the Hulk. Because the plot is about a man who has created an elixir that splits his good and bad by transforming him into two separate people, respectively, it is said that its primary focus is on the dual nature of man; the moral and the immoral. The drastic antipodal personalities residing in Stevenson’s main character is often used to illustrate an individual’s contradictory behavior between their public and private image. In fact, literary experts have long agreed that Jekyll and Hyde serves as a spotlight of the social hypocrisy that dominated nineteenth century London during the Victorian Age. This bifurcated system adopted by society during this period, was heavily concerned with maintaining a proper, public image of respectability while the lewd, lustful desires remained unspoken, hidden away from society’s eyes. Thus, the gentle, well-mannered Jekyll and his alter ego, the violent, debased Hyde personifies the outward decorum and inward licentiousness that civilization tried to detach through appearances. The hypocrisy exposed by Stevenson’s novella has unfortunately always been sewn into the fabric of society. This fact is verified when we recall that Jesus Christ, during the first century, spoke out against this dichotomous (split) system as He warned, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). The Master’s instruction clearly shows the error of believing that a person can separate his outward man from his inward man. Even though the Rabbi’s during Jesus’ time on earth wanted to present the erroneous doctrine of “look but don’t touch,” as acceptable by the Law of Moses, the Lord explained why this was hypocritical. The inspired James assists this explanation as he declares, “Where do wars and fights come from? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members” (James 4:1)? Prior to this James, too, unveils that “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when the desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). Through these inspired Scriptures, the Holy Spirit demonstrates that it is impossible to live two opposite lives (i.e. a public and a private life) simultaneously because one leads to the other. In other words, our outward actions ultimately commence in our inward thoughts and desires. Lusting after a woman, per our Savior’s example, is what opens the door for that man to eventually act upon it. It is wise to understand that what the Master is referencing is not a simple attraction to the opposite sex, but as Solomon points out, “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared” (Proverbs 6:27-28)? The moment that attraction increases in to an unrestrained, passionate longing for wanting to be with that woman intimately, it will eventually overtake that man. James wisely proves that this is true with all forms of strong desires fermenting in a person’s heart. For this reason, no man is able to compartmentalize a public figure from a private one. Those who make an effort to do so are exposed by Holy Writ as hypocrites. Lexicographers disclose that our modern word of hypocrisy is transliterated from the Greek word hupokrisis and originally it meant “a reply, an answer; then, play-acting, as the actors spoke in dialogue” (“hypocrisy,” Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, pg. 571). Therefore the origin of our word hypocrisy came from the ancient word that interprets as playing or acting the part. It is indisputable that when one thinks of hypocrite, the original meaning of the word fits in with great precision. An individual trying to be someone in public, who is different from whom he is in private, is without a doubt playing a part. Those who live this double lifestyle are insincere, deceitful, unreliable, and very dangerous. Vines reveals that “hypocrite” (Gr. Hupokritēs) is used only by Jesus in the New Testament, twenty times in the synoptic Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (“hypocrite,” Vines, pg. 572). Fifteen of those twenty Scriptures are recorded by Matthew, and ten of those inspired passages exhibit the Lord using them as a reprimand to the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees (Matthew 15:7, 16:3, 22:18, 23:13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, & 29). There is no denying that the religious leaders of those days were more concerned with securing man’s public approval more than heaven’s approval. The Lord uncovered their insincere spirit, rebuking them saying, “you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:28). It is imperative to comprehend that man’s worship is to be presented to God, thus it should be pleasing to Him. The key component of achieving this blessed goal is that we “must draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). James adds to this truth by exhorting, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). It is imperative to realize that Holy Scripture is teaching the Christian that God cannot be deceived because He knows man’s heart (cf. Jeremiah 17:9-10, Galatians 6:7-8). For this reason, one cannot fall prey to the false sense of security that hypocrisy tends to provide. Being one person in public and another in private is the very sin Christ sought to purge from the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees of His time. After all, keeping up an appearance of holiness is to emulate the devil, and not God (2nd Corinthians 11:13-15). Behold, the true peril of hypocrisy!