Righteousness, or doing what is right, is incredibly important to God. In fact, God’s throne, or His rulership is founded on righteousness and justice (Psalm 89:14). So when Jesus comes across some people who are pretending to be standing in God’s righteousness but are, in fact, standing in their own self-righteousness, He confronts them head-on.
The Pharisee
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’”
Luke 18:9-12 (NIV)
In the parable Jesus tells, the Pharisee did what was right. He ticked all the right boxes. He was quite aware that he had done these things, and was rightly pleased that he had accomplished them well. But he elevated, or “exalted” them beyond the place they should have been, and therefore they became an idol that he stood on to promote himself. He no longer needed God, as he was founded on his own righteousness. Self-righteousness became his “throne.”
From this self-righteous vantage point, he looked down on other people. His focus was on how high he was, compared to them.
The Tax Collector
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:13-14 (NIV)
The Tax Collector knew he was a sinner. He did not tick any boxes at all. He did not even look up. Such was his guilt. All he did was humbly acknowledge his guilt and ask for mercy. He did not even see the Pharisee, or any other person – his whole focus was on seeking and finding God. And he received God’s righteousness (verse 14a). He went away standing in the righteousness and justice of God.
You and me
As Christians, we also tick many, if not all, the right boxes. We pray, we tithe, we serve, and we might even fast. We’re not outright “sinners” as such. So how do we ensure we’re not relying on these things in any way, like the Pharisee did? How do we know we are not becoming self-righteous in our attitude towards God, or towards others who are not doing these things?
The key is in what we choose to stand on, and where our focus is. If, in any way, we choose to stand on, or exalt, the right things we do, like the Pharisee, we will end up standing in self-righteousness. Continuing to humble ourselves, like the Tax Collector, ensures we stay in God’s righteousness. The choice is ours.
In response, you might like to ask God if there are any areas of your life where self righteousness has become your foundation. Repent and ask Him how you can humble yourself in this area.
