--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can hardly say that the Pharisees had…" description: "\"We can hardly say that the Pharisees had an accurate ‘knowledge’ of man when they pointed to the sins (the real sins) of publicans and sinners. This ju..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/g-c-berkouwer-3-43024_able_we-can-hardly-say-that-the-pharisees-had_3202175.jpg" --- # We can hardly say that the Pharisees had an accurate… ![“We can hardly say that the Pharisees had an accurate ‘knowledge’ of man when they pointed to the sins (the real sins) of publicans and sinners. This judgment, which separated knowledge of man from self-knowledge, was as nothing in God’s eyes. The Jew did not have a better understanding because he…” quote by G. C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/g-c-berkouwer-3-43024_able_we-can-hardly-say-that-the-pharisees-had_3202175.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/g-c-berkouwer-3-43024_able_we-can-hardly-say-that-the-pharisees-had_3202175.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/g-c-berkouwer-3-43024_able_we-can-hardly-say-that-the-pharisees-had_3202175.jpg) > “We can hardly say that the Pharisees had an accurate ‘knowledge’ of man when they pointed to the sins (the real sins) of publicans and sinners. This judgment, which separated knowledge of man from self-knowledge, was as nothing in God’s eyes. The Jew did not have a better understanding because he was able to judge the heathen. In the sphere of abstract morality this could possibly be said, but this is not Biblical morality - O man, who judgest others!” [G. C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-3/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judging others while claiming moral superiority reveals a lack of true self‑knowledge and divine perspective. **In simple terms:** Judging others shows poor self‑knowledge. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and self‑reflection. Themes humility self‑knowledge judgment spirituality Mood reflective serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - preaching - personal counseling - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theology ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑knowledge affect moral authority? - Can true humility coexist with moral critique? A Different Perspective Biblical morality emphasizes love over judgment, challenging this critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Biblical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical/) [Heathen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heathen/) [Jew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jew/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Pharisees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pharisees/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowledge/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [Thus united to them in the fellowship of life, he will both understand the things revealed to them by God and, thenceforth escaping the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thus-united-to-them-in-the-fellowship-of-life-he-will-both-understand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Concerning the press and politicians, the hatred for all such evangelical groups is not because of their real or fancied blunders but because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/concerning-the-press-and-politicians-the-hatred-for-all-such/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [“I've noticed that there is danger in spending all this time writing about those "publicans and sinners" over there in the great and spacious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/i-ve-noticed-that-there-is-danger-in-spending-all-this-time-writing/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [The people who kill and torture and tell lies in the name of their sacred causes, these are never the publicans and the sinners.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-people-who-kill-and-torture-and-tell-lies-in-the-name-of-their/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Jesus' 'lack of moral principles.' He sat at meat with publicans and sinners, he consorted with harlots. Did he do this to obtain their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/jesus-lack-of-moral-principles-he-sat-at-meat-with-publicans-and/) [Dag Hammarskjöld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [To preach the Bible as 'the handbook for life,' or as the answer to every question, rather than as the revelation of Christ, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/to-preach-the-bible-as-the-handbook-for-life-or-as-the-answer-to/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [The Bible in itself is not the Word of God. The Word of God is a person. Neither does the Bible have life, power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-brinsmead/the-bible-in-itself-is-not-the-word-of-god-the-word-of-god-is-a/) Robert D. Brinsmead > [“He speaks to the poor, the powerless, and he mocks the rich and powerful. 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They were busy in the outward work of the hand, but incurious of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/the-pharisees-minded-what-god-spoke-but-not-what-he-intended-they/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [According to Miller, Pharisee Judaism is not a religion at all, but a secret society posing as a religion, a "sect with Judaism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-starr-miller/according-to-miller-pharisee-judaism-is-not-a-religion-at-all-but-a/) Edith Starr Miller > [A Pharisee is someone who is virtuous out of obedience to the Great Beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/a-pharisee-is-someone-who-is-virtuous-out-of-obedience-to-the-great/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## More by G. C. Berkouwer > [In the New Testament, myth stands over against the truth of the history of Jesus Christ ... the decisive die has ... been already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-3/in-the-new-testament-myth-stands-over-against-the-truth-of-the/) [G. C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-3/) > [The confession of the authority of the Word of God can never be isolated from the saving content of the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-3/the-confession-of-the-authority-of-the-word-of-god-can-never-be/) [G. C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-3/) > [In the doctrine of Providence, we have a specific Christian confession exclusively possible through faith in Jesus Christ. 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