We don’t like Pharisees.
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“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes...”
- Proverbs 6:16-17
We can all act like Pharisees.
Four things we can be haughty about:
Accomplishments
Reputation
Group Identity
Opinions
We should approach God with humility and strive to be right with Him.
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 18:13-14for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
- Romans 3:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 6:23