Who is Self-Righteous? Luke 18:9-14

Self-righteous? Next to hypocrisy, this is the most common complaint against Christians “Holier-than-thou” attitude Arrogant, spiritual snobbery They existed in Jesus’ time They exist today Are you self-righteous?

Marks of the Self-righteous 1.They fix everyone else first 1 Corinthians 4:13 1 Corinthians 4:13 - being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. Matthew 7:1 Matthew 7:1 - Judge not, that you be not judged. When evaluating their own spiritual maturity:

Marks of the Self-righteous 1.They fix everyone else first Romans 12:3a - Romans 12:3a - For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, 1 Corinthians 11:31 1 Corinthians 11:31 - For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 2 Corinthians 13:5 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. When evaluating their own spiritual maturity:

Marks of the Self-righteous They measure by popular opinion 2. They measure by popular opinion Matthew 6:1 Matthew 6:1 - Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Matthew 23:5-6 Matthew 23:5-6 - But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, When evaluating their own spiritual maturity:

Marks of the Self-righteous They measure by popular opinion 2. They measure by popular opinion 1 Corinthians 4:3 1 Corinthians 4:3 - But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. When evaluating their own spiritual maturity:

Marks of the Self-righteous They measure by a clear conscience 3. They measure by a clear conscience Proverbs 16:2-3 Proverbs 16:2-3 – 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. 3 Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:23 Proverbs 16:23 - There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. When evaluating their own spiritual maturity:

Marks of the Self-righteous They grade on the curve 4. They grade on the curve Luke 18:9 Luke 18:9 – Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Matthew 6:5 Matthew 6:5 - And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. When evaluating their own spiritual maturity:

Marks of the Self-righteous They use 3 faulty measuring tapes 1. They use 3 faulty measuring tapes A - Appearances, Giftedness, and Charisma 1 Samuel 16:7 1 Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart 2 Corinthians 10:7 2 Corinthians 10:7 - Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They use 3 faulty measuring tapes 1. They use 3 faulty measuring tapes B - Fruitful Ministry Matthew 7:22-23 Matthew 7: Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They use 3 faulty measuring tapes 1. They use 3 faulty measuring tapes C – Zealous Spirituality Matthew 23:27-28 Matthew 23: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They use 3 faulty measuring tapes 1. They use 3 faulty measuring tapes C – Zealous Spirituality Jeremiah 17:9-10 Jeremiah 17:9-10 – 9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Luke 16:15 Luke 16:15 - And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They think they can see MOTIVES 2. They think they can see MOTIVES Proverbs 16:2 Proverbs 16:2 - All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. Matthew 6:1 Matthew 6:1 - Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Psalm 90:8 Psalm 90:8 - You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They think they can see CLOSETS 3. They think they can see CLOSETS Romans 2:14-16 Romans 2: for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They think they can see CLOSETS 3. They think they can see CLOSETS 1 Corinthians 4:5 1 Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They think they can see THE PAST 4. They think they can see THE PAST 1 Corinthians 6:9b-11 1 Corinthians 6:9b-11 -Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They think they can see THE PAST 4. They think they can see THE PAST Ephesians 2:2, 4 Ephesians 2:2, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They think they can see THE FUTURE 5. They think they can see THE FUTURE Matthew 13:24-30 Matthew 13:24-30 – Tares will be removed from the wheat 1 Corinthians 4:5 1 Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous They think they can see THE FUTURE 4. They think they can see THE FUTURE 1 Timothy 5: Timothy 5:24-25 – 24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden. When evaluating others:

Marks of the Self-righteous Conclusions: When looking at themselves – –The self-righteous cant’ see their own faults –They see clearly the faults of everyone else When evaluating others: –They see the faults, but not the forgiveness –They claim more than they can know

Marks of the Self-righteous Conclusions: The self-righteous do great harm to the cause of Christ Make sure you do not appear to be self- righteous Jesus urged the self-righteous to repent and make the changes necessary Will you do the same thing?