Topical Encyclopedia Self-righteousness is a disposition characterized by an inflated sense of one's own righteousness, often accompanied by a tendency to judge and condemn others. This attitude is frequently addressed in the Bible, where it is depicted as a spiritual pitfall that leads individuals away from genuine humility and repentance.Biblical References and Teachings The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that warn against self-righteousness. One of the most poignant illustrations is found in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. In Luke 18:9-14 , Jesus tells of a Pharisee who prays, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive." In contrast, the tax collector stands at a distance, unwilling to even lift his eyes to heaven, and prays, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Jesus concludes that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified before God, emphasizing that "everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." The Apostle Paul also addresses self-righteousness in his epistles. In Romans 2:1 , he writes, "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things." Paul warns that those who judge others while committing similar sins are guilty of hypocrisy and are subject to God's judgment. Characteristics and Consequences Self-righteous individuals often exhibit a lack of empathy and an inability to recognize their own faults. This is exemplified in Matthew 7:3-5 , where Jesus admonishes, "Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." The consequences of self-righteousness are spiritually detrimental. It creates a barrier between the individual and God, as it fosters pride and a false sense of moral superiority. Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." This pride blinds individuals to their need for God's grace and mercy, leading them to rely on their own perceived righteousness rather than the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. Examples in Scripture The Pharisees and scribes are often depicted as epitomes of self-righteousness in the Gospels. They are criticized by Jesus for their outward displays of piety and their strict adherence to the letter of the law while neglecting its spirit. In Matthew 23:27-28 , Jesus rebukes them, saying, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." The Call to Humility The Bible consistently calls believers to humility and self-examination. 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.'" True righteousness is not self-derived but is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ. Believers are encouraged to seek God's righteousness and to extend grace and mercy to others, recognizing their own need for forgiveness and redemption. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 9:11-13And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, Why eats your Master with publicans and sinners? Torrey's Topical Textbook Luke 7:39 Library A Blow at Self-Righteousness Sanctification. The Pharisee and the Publican. Prayer and Humility The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph The People among whom we Labour. The Spirit not Striving Always. The Temple Cleansed Again Reform Its Basis Resources What is the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the fruit of righteousness in Philippians 1:11? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about self-worth? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Self-Righteousness is Boastful Self-Righteousness is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is: But External Self-Righteousness is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is: But Partial Self-Righteousness is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is: Ineffectual for Salvation Self-Righteousness is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is: No Better than Filthy Rags Self-Righteousness is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is: Unprofitable Self-Righteousness: Church of Laodicea Self-Righteousness: Denunciation Against Self-Righteousness: General Scriptures Concerning Self-Righteousness: Hateful to God Self-Righteousness: Illustrated Self-Righteousness: Man is Prone To Self-Righteousness: Saints Renounce Self-Righteousness: The Laodicean Congregation Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to are Abominable Before God Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to are Pure in Their own Eyes Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to Audaciously Approach God Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to Condemn Others Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to Consider Their own Way Right Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to Despise Others Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to Proclaim Their own Goodness Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to Reject the Righteousness of God Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to Seek to Justify Themselves Self-Righteousness: They Who are Given to Seek to Justify Themselves Before Men Self-Righteousness: Warning Against Supererogation: The Doctrine of Excessive and Meritorious Righteousness Related Terms |
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