Extreme Righteousness: Seeing Ourselves in the Pharisees

by Tom Hovestol

In this honest, eye-opening book, author Tom Hovestol examines the Pharisees. Exploring their historical and biblical roots, he discovers penetrating truths that can warn, enlighten, and protect believers to avoid their disastrous path.

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2008

Reviews

[Booksandnici]

a MUST read for every Christian!

[James]

What a book. The reader will find that his inner life is exposed and that he has more of the Pharisee about him than he cares to acknowledge.

It is the sort of book one fears that will be criticised for its very slight left wing leanings not because it advocates socialism (it doesn't) but rather as a means of discrediting the message it contains.

The reader will be challenged about how he lives his life and the attitudes he maintains to others, His relationship with God will also come under examination.

It is a worthwhile and profitable read. Christians should read this book thoughtfully and prayerfully.

[Michele Wilder]

This book was recommended to me by a pastor because I wanted to do some research on hypocrisy for a novel I'm working on. It has many great truths regarding some of today's Christians with points that give heart-searching pause for thought about why and for whom we do things.

I was disappointed that the author did not use the KJV, and as one reviewer already pointed out and as the author did note at the end, I think the book should be read by the discerning reader. People could easily swing the pendulum too far the other way and throw out some of the traditions, habits, and standards instilled within them that are truly good and valuable.

It is definitely a worth-read for all Christians, and I would recommend this book.

[Mark Wilson]

Although the church often draws warning from the Pharisees in the course of their appearance in the gospels, this is a useful book that starts from looking at the attributes of the Pharisees that evangelicals would approve of, and in so doing allow us to identify with them and, more importantly, learn from their mistakes that led them to go so terribly wrong when encountering the person of Jesus Christ. Although sometimes I felt the book run too far in the other direction from legalism in parts (something in itself warned about in the last chapter), it provides some timely warning to evangelicals to think about their traditions, culture and attitude, and an encouragement to bring all these things under the reformation and authority of scripture.