Topical Bible: Answers To Prayer: Denied to Those Who are Self-Righteous

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In the biblical narrative, prayer is a vital means of communication between humanity and God. However, Scripture makes it clear that the efficacy of prayer is contingent upon the spiritual posture of the one who prays. One significant hindrance to answered prayer is self-righteousness, a condition where individuals rely on their own perceived righteousness rather than the grace and mercy of God.

Biblical Examples and Teachings

1. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14): Jesus presents a parable that starkly contrasts the prayers of a self-righteous Pharisee and a humble tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prays, "God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire" (Luke 18:11-12). In contrast, the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even lift his eyes to heaven but beat his breast, saying, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:13). Jesus concludes that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified before God, illustrating that self-righteousness is a barrier to divine favor.

2. Isaiah's Rebuke (Isaiah 65:5): The prophet Isaiah condemns those who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!" Such individuals are described as "smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long" (Isaiah 65:5). This imagery underscores God's displeasure with self-righteous attitudes, which are offensive to Him and hinder effective communication through prayer.

3. The Warning of Jesus (Matthew 6:5-6): In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against praying like the hypocrites who love to stand and pray in synagogues and on street corners to be seen by others. He instructs, "But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:6). This teaching emphasizes the importance of humility and sincerity in prayer, as opposed to the self-righteous display of piety.

Theological Insights

Self-righteousness is fundamentally at odds with the biblical understanding of righteousness, which is imputed by faith in God rather than earned through human effort. The Apostle Paul writes, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). This principle extends to prayer, where reliance on one's own righteousness is seen as a form of boasting that God does not honor.

Practical Implications

For believers, the call is to approach God with a heart of humility, recognizing one's own sinfulness and the need for God's grace. James 4:6 reminds us, "But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble'" . Thus, effective prayer requires a posture of humility, acknowledging that righteousness comes from God alone.

In summary, the Bible consistently teaches that self-righteousness is a significant barrier to answered prayer. The self-righteous individual, relying on personal merit, fails to recognize the need for God's grace and mercy, thereby hindering the effectiveness of their prayers.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 18:11,12,14
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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if I denied my guilt ... John Bradford said, that when he was in prayer, he never ...
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the prayer that is ... Something in your soul answers my question; you know you ...
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The Jerusalem Sinner Saved;
... You have killed, yea, 'ye denied the Holy One and ... him upon it, he loosed her, though
those that stood ... proper channel when it deals with self-righteous men; but ...
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land.' A prayer as full ... Controversy was carried on in those days with extreme ...
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Saved by Grace;
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Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... It is taken for those vehement inclinations that are in man, to all manner of ... Here,
I do not understand, as if the apostle had denied a virtuous course of life ...
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The Pilgrim's Progress
... Now may this little book a blessing be To those who love this little book and me ...
To turn their feet and heart to the right way, Is the hearty prayer of The ...
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Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ;
... Those who come are drawn in a variety of ways"some terrified with the horrors of
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