In many of Jesus’ parables we see attitudes on display, and most are bad. We might take from this that bad attitudes will hurt you more than good attitudes can help you. In Matthew’s parable of the vineyard workers, only the bad attitudes are spotlighted and the harm they did. In the prodigal son, we only see the bad attitude of the older son, or in the parable of the wood plank it’s a bad attitude toward those around us who have faults.

Then there is the unforgiving servant’s bad attitude toward those who owed him money, and the Good Samaritan parable had the attitudes of the priest and Levite stirring them to offer no help. Since so many of the parables were taught because of the bad attitudes of the religious leaders it is of no surprise that such light is put on this state of mind.

In these parables the one who had the bad attitude didn’t think it was a bad attitude or even a problem, but in the end, we see that it brought great loss to them. So how can we change these attitudes before they take us down with them?