Some lessons on the dangers of self-righteousness from Jesus himself. In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus tells a parable about two sons. In the parable, the father gives instructions to his two sons. One of them said no, but did follow instructions anyway, and the other said yes but disobeyed. Jesus asked the Pharisees which one obeyed their father, and they replied, ‘The first one.’ In verses 31-32, Jesus said that it is correct and explained the meaning: (NLT) “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John, the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.”
The first son said no, but did the task anyway. This represents the prostitutes and tax collectors, because they rebelled against God’s laws at first, but then they submitted and repented. The second son said yes, but didn’t do his task. The religious hypocrites pretend they perfectly keep God’s commands, but they sin in secret and pretend they are better than others in public by saying yes to God publicly.
This is echoed in the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14. In the parable, a tax collector and a Pharisee are praying at the temple. The Pharisee uses his prayer to boast about all the sins he doesn’t commit, and then points out and ridicules the tax collector. Then he brags about how he gives tithes and offerings. Meanwhile, the tax collector is so ashamed that he keeps his distance and keeps his head bowed in humility. He prayed by asking God for mercy. Jesus confirms that the repentant tax collector is forgiven because of his humility and honesty; meanwhile, the Pharisee is wrong. He ends by saying, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” This phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the gospels (Matt 23:12, Luke 14:11).
God doesn’t want fake humility and religious performance, but wants hearts that seek to change. This requires humility in acknowledging our faults and recognizing that we are all guilty of breaking God’s laws and need to receive the mercy He offers through Jesus to avoid eternal condemnation for our failures (Romans 3:23-26).
Romans 3:23 (NLT) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.