Two individuals, both in the same place, two opposite attitudes, each of them sinners. Choose the second, the one with a bowed head.

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”         Luke 18:9-14

Why did Jesus teach this parable? Think about it for a bit. You and I have a self-righteousness problem. There are numerous times when we think the same way as the Pharisee…” I am not like”…I’m not an extortioner, unjust, and I certainly am not like “those” people. I know this is true of me, just guessing it’s true of you.

Why should we be concerned about our built-in tendency to be self-righteous? Why do we often think “I’m not as bad as those people?” We should be concerned because we are not righteous. Do not believe what the world says-We are not naturally good. This is a lie from our enemy the devil. We are not righteous. Because we are not righteous, we both have a problem. We cannot save ourselves. Our self-righteous attitude keeps us from seeing there is no goodness in us. Self-righteousness is a sin blindfold; we cannot see our sin from the throne of self-righteousness.

Righteousness comes from God.

The tax collector knew it. He cried out, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” This is the point of Jesus’s parable. It is to open our eyes to the danger of pride and self-righteousness, or exalting ourselves.

We do not view humility as something to be desired. Humility seems like becoming the unappreciated servant-of everyone. Don’t be misled.

Humility is not weakness.

Humility brings recognition that we need a Savior. It leads us to realize there is no goodness in us. Jesus is the way to overcome human self-righteousness. This why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus came to save us from our pious pride. He came to give His righteousness to us. He is the way. He is the truth. Life in Him has no end…no ego. May we bow our heads like the second man and say, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” We can be certain this prayer will be heard and answered.