Hypocrites at least as Jesus used it, referred to people who had one code of moral conduct for others and another for themselves. Some in Jesus' day believed that people could not walk more than a certain number of steps on the Sabbath away from your home, so they would hide some of there things around the area and count everyone of those spots as a resident so they could travel much farther than the allotted number of steps and still be obeying the law of Moses. That is the kind of practice that Christ was referring to.
So here is what I am struggling with. I am homeschooling this year and sometimes you have to teach things you aren't a very good at or a very good example of. For example I am not a very organized person and yet one of the big things you need to teach your kids is how to be more organized in your studies.
Now then how can I teach a principle that I am so bad at and not look like a hypocrite. Here is what I have come up with so far. If you have any Ideas please let me. First be honest with them. Tell them its not something I am really good at now but I am working on it do. If they see it is important for me to work on it then they may better know the importance of the principle for themselves. To is work on and improve. Nothing teaches better than a good example. Next I need to hold myself accountable and let the children hold me accountable. Finally hold them accountable as well.
I believe one more principle to remember is don't be afraid to teach by experience. Some people think because they made a mistake when they were younger that they are a hypocrite if they stress those points to their children. If you did drugs in high school it does not mean you're a hypocrite if you tell your kids not to do drugs. Quite the opposite really. If you made a mistake and you had to face the consequences warning your kids not to tread a dangerous path that who were foolish enough to try at one point is not hypocrisy. It is an act of love, of Charity.
I just hope I can be the example I try to be. I am not perfect but am trying.