“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matt 5:20, NKJV)
According to the Scripture quoted above self-righteousness is the main reason why certain believers CANNOT enter the kingdom of God. In Luke 18:7-14 Christ relates a parable about self- righteousness and its inherent danger. He starts telling the story when He sees how avarice people in the crowd are pushing for the pound seats. According to James 3:14 a believer boasts against the truth if his heart is bitter and self-seeking. Korah’s rebellion is fed by the spiritual hierarchies found in our spiritual communities, and the carnal importance attributed to certain individuals, and which people also claim for themselves. It is an inescapable spiritual principle – “[F]or everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14).
In the parable two men visit the temple, a Pharisee and a tax-collector. The Pharisee prayed quietly: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.”
This is obviously a very religious man, and he faithfully performs the rituals of faith. But he fails to understand that his religious observance does not make him righteous. He is thus only self- righteous. The believer’s deeds are natural outpourings of his relationship with God; God does not count them as Brownie points. Also consider that although there were righteous acts he faithfully committed to (and according to James 2:18 there is), he loses any righteousness gained from these because he is indeed self-righteous.
The parable goes on to describe the tax collector who did not even feel worthy to lift his eyes to heaven, so aware of his state as fallen sinner, and pounded his chest exclaiming “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” In Nah 2:7 we also read of the slaves weeping and beating their breast. In a remorseful state, also “David’s heart smote him” (2 Sam 24:10, KJV). From this we garner the tax-collector’s utter brokenness before God. And thus another spiritual principle comes into play – “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” (Isa 66:2). It holds true in the New Testament, too – “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5b).
Jesus then spells it out – “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Sela: Ask God’s forgiveness for any forms of self-righteousness in your life.
- Read: 2 Kings 21; Jer 22; 2 Cor 5
- Memorise: 2 Cor 5:17
- For a deeper understanding: Read chapter 8 of William Barclay’s The mind of St Paul.
