The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Jesus’ time, known for their strict adherence to the law. However, some of them—though not all—were particularly harsh, judgmental, and lacked the heart of God’s compassion. Jesus often rebuked them for their hypocrisy, pride, and condemnation of sinners. He exposed their obsession with legalism while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). He called them out for laying heavy burdens on others while doing nothing to help (Matthew 23:4). He also warned that their outward religiosity masked an inner spiritual decay, comparing them to “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27).
Today, the term “Pharisee” has become synonymous with legalism, judgmentalism, and a condescending attitude toward others. While Phariseeism was once a specific religious movement, its spirit lives on in modern times through people who prioritize rules over relationships, law over love, and condemnation over compassion.
Do you want to know if you might have some Pharisaical tendencies? Here are 10 ways to examine yourself:
1. Do You Lack Empathy?
Empathy is the ability to step into another person’s shoes, to understand their pain, struggles, and motivations. Jesus showed empathy to sinners, like the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), instead of condemning her.
For instance, consider a desperate mother who steals baby food because she cannot afford to feed her child. While stealing is wrong, does she deserve the same level of condemnation as someone like Bernie Madoff, who intentionally ran a Ponzi scheme to enrich himself at the expense of others? If you struggle to differentiate between circumstances and lack compassion for those who fall short, you may be a modern-day Pharisee.
2. Do You Judge Others Harshly Without Knowing the Full Story?
A fair judge takes time to examine evidence, listen to all sides, and seek truth before passing judgment. However, modern-day Pharisees are quick to condemn, especially over religious matters, often based on hearsay, gossip, or something they’ve read online.
Did you hear something about a person and immediately assume the worst? Have you ever participated in “cancel culture” without fully understanding the situation? If you are quick to declare someone spiritually lost or a heretic without taking time to seek the whole truth, you may be a modern-day Pharisee.
3. Do You Feel Entitled and Spiritually Superior?
The Pharisees believed they were specially chosen by God, which led them to look down on others. This sense of entitlement made them believe that they alone had divine favor while everyone else was condemned.
Do you feel that only your denomination, church, or theology is truly right while others are destined for hell? Do you consider yourself one of the “elect” while believing everyone else is spiritually inferior? If so, you may be a modern-day Pharisee.
4. Do You Focus on Rules More Than Relationships?
Pharisees were obsessed with strict rule-keeping but neglected the bigger picture of love, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). They criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6) because they valued legalism over human need.
Are you more concerned about people following religious rules than you are about their well-being? If you find yourself caring more about how someone dresses at church than their relationship with Christ, you may be leaning toward Phariseeism.
5. Do You Love Religious Traditions More Than the Heart of the Gospel?
The Pharisees clung tightly to their traditions, sometimes elevating them above God’s actual commands (Mark 7:8-9). While traditions can be meaningful, they should never take precedence over the core message of Christ: love, grace, and redemption.
Do you get more upset about people not following certain church customs than about real issues like injustice, poverty, and the lost? If so, take a moment to reflect because you may be a modern-day Pharisee.
6. Do You Delight in Finding Fault With Others?
Pharisees constantly sought to trap Jesus, accusing Him of wrongdoing. Their spirit is alive today in those who nitpick and constantly criticize others’ personal lives with a sense of smug superiority.
Do you secretly enjoy pointing out the faults in others? Do you love exposing people’s failures while ignoring your own? If so, you may be a modern-day Pharisee.
7. Do You Avoid or Look Down on Sinners?
Jesus spent time with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners—not to condone sin but to offer grace (Luke 5:30-32). The Pharisees, in contrast, avoided “unclean” people, preferring their religious echo chamber.
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the older brother couldn’t fathom nor accept that the father forgave his sinful younger brother without punishment. Does the idea that God freely forgives sinners without punishing them ever stir frustration in you, too? Or do you find yourself only associating with “righteous” Christians while avoiding those who struggle with sin? Do you look down on those with addictions, broken families, or messy lives? If so, you may be a modern-day Pharisee.
8. Do You Exalt Religious Leaders Unquestioningly?
The Pharisees loved their positions of honor and authority (Matthew 23:6-7). Today, some religious figures expect blind loyalty, discouraging questioning or critical thinking.
Do you follow a pastor or religious leader uncritically, accepting everything they say without examining their theology for yourself? Do you believe that questioning church teachings is rebellious rather than an honest pursuit of truth? If so, you might be falling into Pharisaical thinking.
9. Are You More Concerned With Outward Appearances Than Inner Transformation?
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being like “whitewashed tombs”—clean on the outside but full of hypocrisy on the inside (Matthew 23:27-28). They performed religious duties but neglected inner spiritual transformation.
Are you more focused on appearing holy than actually growing in humility and love? Do you care more about how others perceive your faith than about loving others? If so, examine your heart because you may be a modern-day Pharisee.
10. Do You Resist Correction and Think You Are Always Right?
Pharisees were stubborn and refused to be corrected by Jesus. Their pride prevented them from seeing their own theological errors.
Do you think your theology must be true because your church, pastor, or denomination figured it all out? Do you resist feedback or correction from those who think, believe, or understand the Scriptures differently? Do you find it challenging to be flexible or admit when you are possibly wrong about spiritual matters, even if you’ve held to them for very long? A humble heart is teachable, but a Pharisaical heart is hardened against truth.
Conclusion: A Call to Examine Ourselves
Being a modern-day Pharisee isn’t about following religious traditions or being passionate about righteousness—it’s about having a hardened heart that prioritizes legalism over love, judgment over mercy, and self-righteousness over humility.
Jesus called us to something greater than religious rule-keeping: a life of grace, love, and genuine transformation. We should all take time to examine our hearts, ensuring that our faith reflects the heart of Christ—not the cold legalism of the Pharisees.
So, how did you do? If you recognize some of these tendencies in yourself, take heart—Jesus offers grace, and transformation is always possible. Reflecting on the themes of self-righteousness and judgmentalism, as discussed in the article, one can find a profound counter-narrative in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This transformative story challenges notions of conditional love and forgiveness-by-punishment and redefines deeply ingrained perceptions of God. Join me in exploring this parable in depth in God as Father: Unveiling God’s Love for Sinners, Outcasts, Legalists and Jerks Through the Prodigal Son, which delves into the boundless compassion and grace of the divine.
