Is there a plank in your own eye?

I recently reposted a meme on Facebook that read:

Many people reject Jesus because of bad experiences with religious people.

But here’s the thing…Jesus had bad experiences with religious people, too.

In fact, they killed him.

People will let you down.

Jesus won’t.

I know a family who left the church because of what one man said. They described him as a narrow-minded hypocrite.

I didn’t disagree. But I stayed.

Sadly, many people leave the church or don’t even don its doorsteps, because of these people who have tendencies similar to the Pharisees of Jesus’ time.

Jesus often clashed with the Pharisees. They argued with Him about His authority to forgive, His association with sinners, and His healing on the Sabbath. They objected to His ministry and teachings and disputed ritualistic practices.

But the Pharisees weren’t all bad. They were regular businessmen who were respected in their community. They knew the word of God. They believed in one God when most people in that culture were polytheistic. They wanted to honour God’s law.

The Pharisees believed that anyone not walking in obedience was hindering God’s plan. But Jesus associated with prostitutes and tax collectors — those not walking in obedience.

They believed if everyone obeyed God He would take care of them. But Jesus healed on the Sabbath — breaking the rules they had added to the Old Testament law. They believed Jesus was not obeying God.

Jesus wanted to call out the Pharisees — not for their love of God or to the law itself, but for their refusal to repent. They refused to see their bent away from God because they were too busy being self-righteous.

However, before we wag our fingers at the Pharisees for their stubborn ways, we need to examine our hearts. My minister, Pastor Crystal, shared convicting questions to ask ourselves. She said:

You might be a Pharisee if you:

• are the guardian of right and wrong
• are quick to critique and slow to compliment
• wish others were like you
• keep looking down on others, believing you’re spiritually superior
• think you are spiritually superior to other Christian denominations
• are routinely full of hypocrisy and double standards
• can’t accept who God accepts
• are far more concerned with outward appearances than inward reality
• always looking for credit when something good happens
• think these statements only apply to others and not to you

It’s easy to read the Bible and think about how hypocritical and narrow-minded the Pharisees appeared. But when we point the light toward our hearts and examine our attitudes, we may need to ask God to forgive our self-righteousness.

I know I do.