Am I self righteous?
Luke 18:9–14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 14). After encouraging persistence in prayer by telling the parable of the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1–8), Jesus turned His attention to the problem of self-righteousness. We see this in today’s passage, which records our Lord’s parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (vv. 9–14). In showing the folly of those who look to their good works as the basis of their status before our Creator, Jesus gives us essential instruction regarding our justification—our being declared righteous in God’s sight. The original audience of the parable consisted of those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” (v. 9). Luke’s introductory comment reveals that if we have contempt for those who appear to us to be less righteous than us, we are trusting i...