The Upright

Many Pharisees were good and upright people, who Jesus Christ counted among his friends. But it was those who misused religion who angered him so much, particularly when they excused unjust actions and unfair attitudes with pious platitudes. People might be scrupulous about small details of religious observance, giving to the temple a tenth of all their produce, even to the smallest herbs.

But if they were unscrupulous in their treatment of others, Jesus condemned them in no uncertain terms. Which sins do religious people tend to condemn most readily today? How much prominence do we give to justice, humility, and reverence as the most important values? How often do we speak out against hypocrisy, greed and self-indulgence ?