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Originally Posted by gatorev12
The fact that they "sounded trumpets" before they did any act of spiritual piety? I mean, unless there's some other interpretation I'm missing, I always figured Jesus was talking about self-serving hypocrites who loudly proclaimed their own self-righteousness, when the reality is that they were serving only their image of themselves.
Again, Mother Theresa served the poor for decades before anyone even knew her name. Seems the exact opposite of the example Jesus was pointing to in his sermons about the Pharisees.
As for the rest, I suspect it would involve differences between our two religions that would change neither's opinion and distract from the main topic at hand. And I suspect that you knew that since I identified myself as a Catholic earlier in the thread. Regardless of what you may feel about the Catholic Church and its theology, Mother Theresa exemplifies exactly the message that Christ sent us in Scripture: selfless service to others. I would feel the same way about her were she Catholic or Protestant--it really makes no difference to me. The life she lived and the example she gave is inspirational to people of all faiths--even if you disagree on some of her beliefs.
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I actually missed that part where you stated that you are a Catholic. That should help me know where you are coming from.
Now let me be very clear. I am not criticizing Mother Teresa in any way. I was just trying to make a theological point. My question is does Mother Teresa's charity show that she is righteous? And if she is shown to be righteous by her charity to the poor, then what would be so hypocritical about claiming her own righteousness when she has demonstrated that she is? What is so wrong with saying that if it is true?
I think Paul explains why it is hypocritical:
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Originally Posted by Romans 3:10-12, 19, 20
There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one...
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
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Ultimately, the problem is that no one is righteous. That is why the Pharisees were hypocrites. If anybody thinks that they or someone other than Christ is righteous, then that person is mistaken. Only Christ is righteous. That is why I believe Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites. If you proclaim the righteousness of your own works, it is ultimately hypocritical because we are not righteous, as Paul clearly indicates. All of the world is guilty before God, so we have no place to think that we are righteous because we are not. In a civil sense the Pharisees and Scribes were probably better than everybody else. Mother Teresa probably also is the best example of charity that we have in society. It does not mean that she is righteous, though, due to the fact that "the plowing of the wicked, is sin" (Proverbs 21:4). Since we are all wicked apart from Christ as Paul was able to demonstrate, there is nothing that we are capable of doing apart from Christ that ultimately would be considered righteous. And that even includes charitable giving. Is that good in a civil sense? Sure. But from a spiritual standpoint it is wicked unless it is done in Christ, and this is why even Mother Teresa is not good enough to get to heaven on works. Even Mother Teresa is in need of a savior because of her inherent wickedness.
That would certainly appear to be the case. 
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