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Extreme Righteousness: Seeing Ourselves in the Pharisees

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Unlike the misconception of most, the Pharasees were rightreous people in many ways. They were rooted in the scriptures, and zealously seeked to both teach and walk in the law. They are strikingly almost identical with the many churches we have today. Some were harsh and fundamental, while others were merciful and flexible. But as history shows their love for being good at both the scriptures and life style led them to self righteouness, legalism, traditionalism an using God's words to both blind and bind them, the identical characteristics that can be clearly seen in many churches throughout the world. Our extenal human righteousness can surely take us away from the invisible, inner reality of a pure and intimate relatiohship with Christ. This book is one of the best books I have read on legalism and the formation of the fundamentalist way of thinking that happens to the most sincere and good people: ourselves. As a former fundamenalist, this book is an eye opener to the dynamics of legalism and one-sided thinking.

In Tom Hovestol's book, Extreme Righteousness, the author looks to the Pharisees:

ZEALOUS FOR SCRIPTURES

SCRUPULOUS IN THEIR GIVING

DEDICATED TO LIVING UNTAINTED BY THE WORLD

FERVENT IN ANTICIPATING GOD'S DELIVERANCE

CONSCIENTIOUS IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S COMMANDS

These phrases describe the Pharisees. And they describe our own churches. Exploring their historical and Biblical roots, the author discovers penetrating truths that warn, enlighten and protect belivers from their disastrous path.

Incredible chapters bringing conviction and hope for every leader. Some of the more impacting chapters: When Bible Knowledge Blinds & Binds When Tradition Twists Truth When The Sick Look Fit When A Private Relationship Becomes A Public Show

I appreciated the discussion of the five Jewish groups of Jesus' time: The Herodians, Sadducees, Pharisees - Hillel & Shammai, Zealots and Essenes.

In answering the question, why is our self-righteousness unseen?, the author speaks of our blindness to it by the following agencies:

Blinded by our culture Blinded by our morality Blinded by religion Blinded by knowledge

The warning lights of self righteousness? 1. A Contemptuous View Of Others 2. A Shallow Sense Of Forgiveness 3. A Wrong Sense Of Grace & Fairness 4. An Unhealthy View Of Failure

A deep heart-encountering book recommended for any leader.

A friend gave me this book about two years ago. I dreaded reading it, but once I got started it was wonderful. This book is about every Christian. There is a Pharisee in all of us. But we are not left with the dilemna. Tom Hovestol eloquently and practically points the reader to the grace of God.

Surprisingly, this was a very interesting and encouraging book.

I read this book and was spiritually challenged with nearly every page with Mr. Hovestol's application of Scripture.

In Tom Hovestol's book, Extreme Righteousness, the author looks into an important group of people who were around during Jesus time. They had a lot of power being the religious leaders of their day, and many looked up to them as holy individuals. Yet Jesus often exposed them for their hypocrisy. In the modern Christian church, we are taught to view the Pharisees as wolves in sheep's clothing. They were the enemies of Jesus, hence the enemies of God. We have learned to despise them. We are told we are nothing like them. Or are we?

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Extreme Righteousness opened my eyes to a new part of the Gospels: Jesus' dealings with the Pharisees. For a very long time, I always viewed myself as on of the disciples of Jesus when I read the story. I have gone to Bible college, trained to be a missionary, and want to spend the rest of my life in full time ministry to our Lord. God used this book to open my eyes to my own self righteousness. I, just like the Pharisees, thought myself better than others for how I was living. Other people looked up to me for my so called walk with God, and therefore I to thought more highly of myself. This book was instrumental in me understanding the pride that comes with full-time ministry. Extreme Righteousness is a must read for anyone in ministry.

This book has been long overdue. I am so glad to see that it is still in print. I read this book when it was first published and was amazed at the eerie similarity of the Pharisees to many in conservative Christianity. Truth is, all strands of Christianity- and humanity, at large- can be so easily drawn into the error of the Pharisees. Extreme Righteousness is a good expositional study of the Pharisees and their teachings in the New Testament. The author of this book deftly disabuses the reader of the age old tendency to immediately label the Pharisees with the dubious distinction of being Jesus' chief opponents during his earthly ministry, and therefore miss the vital truths that their inclusion in Scripture was meant to teach. No doubt, the Pharisees were the chief opponents of Christ, but they were also conservatives with a passion to revive the law and Jehovah worship. Then why did they so oppose Jesus? Read the book and find out! You will be enriched and convicted. I would also recommend that one read this book in tandem with The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. BTW, I have handed this book out to numerous friends. This book deserves wide distribution.