.png)
Growing up, the best advice I ever received was simple: “They criticized Jesus, so you know people are going to talk about you.”
That wisdom stuck with me. It’s why I’m often baffled when people act shocked at criticism. I receive it often—and while some of it stings, I’ve learned to separate what’s meant to harm from what can help.
Some critics, believe it or not, are your greatest allies. They hold up a mirror that friends rarely do. Friends will cheer you on, but enemies? They’ll point out your flaws. And if you’re wise enough to filter through the noise, those flaws can become areas of growth. Enemies refine you in ways friends can’t.
Jesus was constantly criticized by religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees. They called Him a blasphemer (John 10:33), accused Him of breaking the Sabbath (Matthew 12:2), and even mocked Him for eating with “sinners” (Luke 5:30).
Instead of shrinking back, Jesus used their criticism as a platform to clarify His mission. Every time they tried to trap Him with words, He responded with wisdom that silenced them (Matthew 22:46).
His critics gave Him an opportunity to teach deeper truths—and in the end, their attempts to discredit Him only revealed His authority.
The Israelites criticized Moses relentlessly—complaining about food, water, and even his leadership (Exodus 16:2-3; Numbers 14:2). Yet those complaints taught Moses to lean on God more. Instead of fighting back with his own strength, Moses constantly went into prayer. The criticism refined his humility and made him a stronger leader.
When Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, his enemies (Sanballat and Tobiah) mocked and ridiculed the work, saying it would crumble (Nehemiah 4:3). Instead of quitting, Nehemiah turned their words into fuel. He prayed, stayed focused, and used the opposition as motivation to rally his people. Their criticism became the spark for his determination.
David was criticized by his own brothers when he went to fight Goliath—they said he was arrogant and just looking for attention (1 Samuel 17:28). Rather than let that stop him, David proved his critics wrong through action. He trusted God, fought Goliath, and showed that sometimes criticism is a sign that you’re stepping into territory others can’t see yet.
But there’s a difference. A true critic challenges your work, your ideas, or your approach. A malicious person aims to wound and destroy you.
Once you recognize that line, it’s easier to decide what to absorb and what to ignore. There’s a reason the Golden Rule says, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ If you wouldn’t want it done to you, don’t do it to someone else.
Fore example, Threatened by His authority. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy, called them “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27), and flipped their religious system upside down.
The Roman empire, represented by Pontius Pilate, saw Him as a potential threat to order. They mocked Him with a crown of thorns, flogged Him, and sentenced Him to death by crucifixion—the ultimate humiliation. Yet, Rome’s attempt to destroy Him only fulfilled prophecy and spread His message farther than they ever imagined.
Judas, one of His own disciples, sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). Betrayal always hurts deeper when it’s from someone close, but Jesus used even that pain to complete His mission. Judas’ actions set in motion the very events that led to salvation.
The same people who shouted “Hosanna!” one week later shouted “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:22). Public opinion is fickle. Jesus didn’t live for their applause, so He wasn’t destroyed by their rejection. He kept His eyes on the Father’s will, not the crowd’s approval.
I even stopped watching television because of how overly critical people became. Every show has characters with distinct personalities and roles. Some we cheer for, others we criticize. That’s part of the entertainment. But imagine if those characters carried resentment for our opinions—Victor from the soap operas coming after my aunts because they didn’t like him that week! Absurd, right? Yet the drama, the emotion, the critique—that’s what kept audiences glued to the screen season after season.
Today, it feels different. People stop watching shows—or even supporting people—because they fear criticism, backlash, or disagreement. That saddens me. Because life itself is full of criticism. Some you take in, learn from, and grow. Others you simply move past.
At the end of the day, criticism isn’t the enemy. Sometimes, it’s the very thing pushing you closer to your best self.
