1. Jesus knew from His experiences with the Pharisees how complainers work to hinder the growth of the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The Lord always considered the source of the criticism. Jesus said, "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." (Matt. 23:2,3) Ask the Lord to help you wisely consider the credibility of your critics.
2. Jesus knew that there are various types of complainers:
A. Whiners - "The disciples woke Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" (Mark 4:38) Jesus said, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)
B. Dictators & Controllers - "The chief priests and elders of the people came to Jesus demanding, "By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?" (Matt. 21:23) Jesus said, "John's baptism - where did it come from? Was if from heaven, or from men? We don't know, the Pharisees answered. Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Matt. 21:27)
C. Irritators, Agitators & Blockers - "The Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating food with 'unclean' hands?" (Mark 7:5) Jesus said, "Isaiah was right about you hypocrites: as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.' They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught men." (Mark 7:6,7)
D. Skeptics & Analyzers- "Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:5,6)
E. Cynics - Nathaniel said, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph? Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching he said, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." (John 1:45-47)
F. Martyrs - But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. Jesus said, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." (Matt. 26:35,36)
G. People Pleasers - Jesus said, "Everything the Pharisees do is done for men to see; they love the place of honor at banquets and they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi'. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt 23;5,7,12)
H. Perfectionists - The Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Jesus in his words. 'Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth_ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Jesus, knowing their evil intent said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? _ Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." (Matt 22;15,16,18,21)
I. Hesitators - The disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables? Jesus said, In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: For this people's heart has become callused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes." (Matt 13;10,15)
J. Self-promoters - The mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and asked a favor of him, 'Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." You don't know what you are asking_ Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?_ The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:20-28)
K. Questioners & Problem Finders - The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (John 4:9,10)
L. Misery Loves Company People - Martha said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:40,41)
M. Easily Offended People - One of the experts in the law answered Jesus, 'Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.' Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." (Luke 11:45,46)
N. Peace at Any Price People - Jesus said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but division_. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt. 10:34-37)
O. Half-hearted & Lazy People- Jesus explained to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer, die and be on the third day be raised to life. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, 'Never, Lord! Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me,Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matt 16:21-23)
P. Accusers - "All the people saw Jesus going to the house of Zacchaeus and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.' But Zacchaeus stood up and said, to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said, "Today, salvation has come to this house, For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:7-10)
Q. Fearful People - "Sir, here is your talent; ;I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow. The Master said, "Take his talent away from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. Everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." (Luke 19:21-26)
R. Angry People - "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servants of the high priest, cutting off his right ear." But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him." Am I leading a rebellion? (Luke 22:49-52)
S. Suspicious People - Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Jesus objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. Jesus said, "Leave her alone_ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." (John 11:5-8)
T. Jealous People - The Pharisees said to one another about Christ's triumphant entry to Jerusalem, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him." (John 1:19)
U. Ignorant People - The Jews who had believed in Jesus said to Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Everyone who sins habitually is a slave of sin. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)
V. Stubborn People - The Pharisees said this man (Jesus) is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath. The man who was just healed of his blindness said, "Whether he (Jesus) is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:16-25)
W. Insulting People - The Pharisees hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's (Jesus) disciples! We are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from. The healed man said, "Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (John 9:28-33)
X. Legalists & Traditionalists- Some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't' wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, "Honor your father and mother_. But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God, he is not to honor his father with it. Thus us you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites." (Matt. 15:1-7)
Y. Materialists and Humanists - The rich young ruler came to Jesus and said, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?_ Teacher, All these commandments I have kept since I was a boy! Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack_ sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Mark 10:17-22)
Z. Deceitful and Disruptive People - Jesus knew that Paul would warn believers of such when he wrote, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the wind of teaching and by cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Eph. 4:14,15).
