What other scriptures warn against self-righteousness like in Luke 18:9? Luke 18:9—Where the Warning Begins "To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:" (Luke 18:9) Old Testament Warnings That Sound the Same Alarm • Proverbs 26:12 – "Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." • Proverbs 30:12 – "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not cleansed from its filth." • Isaiah 64:6 – "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." • Isaiah 65:5 – "‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These people are smoke in My nostrils..." • Ezekiel 33:13 – "...he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous acts will be remembered..." Jesus Drives the Point Home in His Teaching • Matthew 5:20 – "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." • Matthew 6:1 – "Be careful not to practice your righteousness before men to be seen by them..." • Matthew 23:27-28 – "You are like whitewashed tombs... on the outside you appear to be righteous to men, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." • Luke 16:15 – "You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts..." The Apostles Keep the Warning Alive • Romans 2:1 – "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another..." • Romans 10:3 – "They were ignorant of the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own..." • Galatians 6:3 – "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." • Philippians 3:9 – "and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ..." • James 4:6 – "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." • 1 John 1:8 – "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Key Takeaways for Daily Living • Self-righteousness blinds us to our need for grace. • God looks at the heart, not outward performance. • Humility and repentance welcome the righteousness of Christ, the only righteousness that saves. • Ongoing self-examination under Scripture keeps pride from taking root and restores our focus on the Savior rather than ourselves. |
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