The Pharisees were good at looking religious while harboring evil intentions. The word hypocrite means actor someone who pretends what he is not. Hypocrisy thrives on making a good appearance and masking what we don't want others to see. The good news is that God's light both exposes the darkness of evil and sin and overcomes hatred with love, pride with humility, and pretense with integrity and truthfulness. God gives grace to the humble and contrite of heart to enable us to overcome the leaven of insincerity and hypocrisy in our lives.
Fear is a powerful force.
It can lead us to flight or panic or it can spur us to faith and action. The fear of God is the antidote to the fear of losing one's life. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. It is reverence for the One who made us in love and who sustains us in mercy and kindness.