Criticism, against believers

Many notable servants of God were subject to criticism, which was sometimes vicious and severe. This was particularly true of Jesus Christ, who was constantly subject to complaint and criticism.

Examples of criticism directed against believers

The patriarchs criticised

Genesis 31:25–30 See also Genesis 12:17–20, Genesis 16:5, Genesis 20:9–10, Genesis 30:1–2

Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well. Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war! Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps. But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing. I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

Moses criticised

Exodus 17:3 See also Exodus 2:11–14, Exodus 5:19–21, Exodus 14:11–12, Exodus 15:24, Exodus 16:2; Numbers 12:1–2, Numbers 16:1–3, Numbers 16:12–14, Numbers 16:41

But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt — to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

David criticised

1 Samuel 17:28 See also 2 Samuel 6:16–23, 2 Samuel 15:1–4

Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart — you have come down to see the battle!”

Job criticised

Job 8:1–2 See also Job 11:1–6, Job 15:1–6

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.

The prophets criticised

Jeremiah 20:8 See also 1 Kings 18:17, 1 Kings 22:24–27; Amos 7:10–12

For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision all day long.

Criticism directed against Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ criticised by his family

Mark 3:20–21 See also Luke 2:48; John 7:2–5

Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat. When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”

Jesus Christ criticised by his disciples

Mark 4:38 See also Matthew 16:21–23 parallel Mark 8:31–33; Luke 10:40; John 6:60–61, John 13:6–9

But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

Jesus Christ criticised by the Pharisees

Matthew 9:10–11 parallels Mark 2:15–16, Luke 5:29–30 See also Matthew 12:1–2 parallels Mark 2:23–24, Luke 6:1–2; Luke 15:1–2

Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus Christ criticised for his teaching

John 6:41–42 See also Matthew 9:3 parallels Mark 2:6–7, Luke 5:21; John 8:52–53

At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven’ ?”

Paul criticised

Acts 21:27–28 See also Acts 18:12–13; 2 Corinthians 10:10

When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”