When Righteousness is a Shell: The Pharisees and the Motte-and-Bailey Fallacy
In today’s culture of argument and opinion, it’s easy to spot flawed reasoning in the world around us. But some of the most dangerous fallacies are not new at all. In fact, they’re ancient—and Scripture shows us that even the most religious can fall into them.
One of these is known today as the motte and bailey fallacy. It’s a tactic where someone makes a bold or extreme claim (the bailey), but when challenged, retreats to a much safer and more agreeable position (the motte). Once the pressure is off, they return to promoting the original bold claim again, without ever defending it honestly.
The Pharisees’ Motte and Bailey
Jesus encountered this fallacy regularly in the religious leaders of His day.
The Pharisees’ “bailey” was their claim to exclusive righteousness:
“We are the ones who truly follow God’s law. Anyone who doesn’t live as we do is unclean.”
[Luke 18:9–12 (Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector)]
But when Jesus challenged them—when He healed on the Sabbath, or ate with sinners—they would retreat to a softer, more defensible position:
“We’re only trying to honor God’s commandments. Isn’t it right to be faithful to the Law?”
That sounds reasonable—almost noble. But it wasn’t the full truth. What they were really doing was building fences around God’s word, elevating man-made traditions above the heart of God’s law: mercy, justice, and humility.
Jesus exposed this fallacy head-on in Matthew 23:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices… But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.”
They weren’t simply trying to obey God. They were wielding control, adding burdens, and masking pride as piety.
How We Challenge the Fallacy
We’re called not only to recognize faulty reasoning but to lovingly confront it. Here’s how we can respond when we see a modern-day “motte and bailey” tactic—especially in religious or spiritual discourse:
- Clarify the Claim
Gently ask: “Is this what you’re really saying?”
Don’t let the speaker blur the line between the bold position and the safe retreat. Jesus often asked clarifying questions that exposed the heart of an issue. - Refuse the Retreat Without Truth
It’s tempting to back off when someone moves into the “motte.” But truth matters.
Say, “I understand the desire to obey God—we agree there. But your earlier claim goes far beyond that. Can we talk about it honestly?” - Stay Rooted in Grace and Truth
Jesus was full of both. Don’t attack or mock. Instead, be firm, clear, and loving.
Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 2:25–26 that we must “gently instruct… in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” - Watch Our Own Hearts
We, too, can fall into this trap. When we feel our opinions being challenged, do we retreat to safety rather than examine ourselves? Are we more concerned with being right than being righteous?
A Closing Thought
The Pharisees were not rebuked because they followed God’s law—but because they used it as a shield for pride and control. The same danger exists today whenever we use good words to protect bad motives.
Truth doesn’t need to hide. Let’s walk in the kind of righteousness that stands up to challenge—not with bluster, but with the quiet confidence of those who live by grace and walk in truth.