The Pharisees Have to Eat Their Own Words
09/04/10 06:02 Filed in: Criticism
As “sojourners,” the disciples were entitled to break their fast. And they did so with the approval of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus knew that the Sabbath was set aside for man’s physical and spiritual renewal. It was meant to be a blessing and not the burden that the Pharisees had made it. He quickly put the Pharisees in their place by showing how unrealistic their interpretation of the law had become.
“ . . . his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.”(Luke 6: 1-5)
At our local restaurant, the cash register receipts include an invitation to rate the service you've received. You simply go online to complete a survey and, in return, your name is entered in a drawing for a cash reward. In effect, you become a "mystery shopper," one of those professional critics who get paid to visit restaurants and rate the dining experience. In the survey, no detail is over looked; everything from the appetizer to the dessert gets rated on a scale of one to five. Your opinion counts. But that's all it is: an "opinion." Someone else might think differently. That's why it's always best to think carefully before expressing an opinion. You may have to eat your words. Just like the Pharisees did.
The Pharisees took mystery shopping to an extreme when they spied the hungry disciples plucking a handful of grains as they passed a farmers’ field. They immediately accused the disciples of breaking the Sabbath fast. According to the Pharisees, “He that reapeth corn on the Sabbath to the quantity of a fig is guilty; and plucking corn is reaping.”
The Pharisees were more concerned with compliance than with compassion. In their self-righteousness, they ignored what Leviticus 23:22 said about the Law of Gleaning:
“And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them for the poor, and for the sojourner: I am Jehovah your God.”
As “sojourners,” the disciples were entitled to break their fast. And they did so with the approval of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus knew that the Sabbath was set aside for man’s physical and spiritual renewal. It was meant to be a blessing and not the burden that the Pharisees had made it. He quickly put the Pharisees in their place by showing how unrealistic their interpretation of the law had become. Citing the example of David and his men, He said they had entered the temple and had eaten the shew bread when they were hungry.
The Pharisees spoke out of turn. No one had asked for their opinion. Furthermore, their criticism was mean-spirited, insulting and wrong-headed. As a result, they had to eat their own words.
But there are times, when you might be called upon to express an opinion about someone at work, in your church or in your community. When you find yourself in that position, remember what the British playwright Noel Coward said: “I love criticism just so long as it's unqualified praise.” People respond better to praise than to criticism. They'd rather hear, "You're better than that" than "You're not doing a good job."
To avoid the Pharisees' mistake, before expressing an opinion, pause, collect your thoughts and ask yourself, "Do I have the right to speak this way? Would I like to hear this about myself?" If so, sandwich your specific "suggestion" between two positive, sincere comments that affirm the other person's self-worth. Always strive to bring out the best in others. Just as Jesus did.
At our local restaurant, the cash register receipts include an invitation to rate the service you've received. You simply go online to complete a survey and, in return, your name is entered in a drawing for a cash reward. In effect, you become a "mystery shopper," one of those professional critics who get paid to visit restaurants and rate the dining experience. In the survey, no detail is over looked; everything from the appetizer to the dessert gets rated on a scale of one to five. Your opinion counts. But that's all it is: an "opinion." Someone else might think differently. That's why it's always best to think carefully before expressing an opinion. You may have to eat your words. Just like the Pharisees did.
The Pharisees took mystery shopping to an extreme when they spied the hungry disciples plucking a handful of grains as they passed a farmers’ field. They immediately accused the disciples of breaking the Sabbath fast. According to the Pharisees, “He that reapeth corn on the Sabbath to the quantity of a fig is guilty; and plucking corn is reaping.”
The Pharisees were more concerned with compliance than with compassion. In their self-righteousness, they ignored what Leviticus 23:22 said about the Law of Gleaning:
“And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them for the poor, and for the sojourner: I am Jehovah your God.”
As “sojourners,” the disciples were entitled to break their fast. And they did so with the approval of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus knew that the Sabbath was set aside for man’s physical and spiritual renewal. It was meant to be a blessing and not the burden that the Pharisees had made it. He quickly put the Pharisees in their place by showing how unrealistic their interpretation of the law had become. Citing the example of David and his men, He said they had entered the temple and had eaten the shew bread when they were hungry.
The Pharisees spoke out of turn. No one had asked for their opinion. Furthermore, their criticism was mean-spirited, insulting and wrong-headed. As a result, they had to eat their own words.
But there are times, when you might be called upon to express an opinion about someone at work, in your church or in your community. When you find yourself in that position, remember what the British playwright Noel Coward said: “I love criticism just so long as it's unqualified praise.” People respond better to praise than to criticism. They'd rather hear, "You're better than that" than "You're not doing a good job."
To avoid the Pharisees' mistake, before expressing an opinion, pause, collect your thoughts and ask yourself, "Do I have the right to speak this way? Would I like to hear this about myself?" If so, sandwich your specific "suggestion" between two positive, sincere comments that affirm the other person's self-worth. Always strive to bring out the best in others. Just as Jesus did.
blog comments powered by Disqus