Luke 18- The Temptation of Self-Righteousness

Today I want to focus on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to pray. In his prayer, the Pharisee lists off the kinds of people that he feels he is better than, along with his righteous acts. But the tax collector recognizes his own brokenness and sinfulness.

Before the parable begins, Luke writes that Jesus "told the parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt." I think that's a temptation I give in to more often than I'd like to admit. On the outside it looks different from what the Pharisee was doing; I pride myself on not looking down on people who many would consider "more sinful" and I find myself judging those who do. But in the end, it's the exact same thing the Pharisee is doing- it's exalting myself, feeling proud of what I do, and judging others. Notice how the tax collector didn't say, "Yeah, well, I thank you that I'm not like this Pharisee, self-righteous and boasting and judgmental of others!"

I've said it before, because Jesus keeps pointing it out and it's something I feel is important- we all need to be more focused on our own sins and shortcomings, not those of others. If everyone is pointing their finger at someone else, no one is taking the time to examine their own lives and see what needs to change within themselves. I love the quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world," and I think that sentiment applies here. Rather than pointing out where other people fall short and boasting about ourselves, maybe we would do well to focus on changing our own selves- admitting our weaknesses and brokenness and screw-ups, doing what we can to change ourselves, and encouraging others by focusing on the good we see.