SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
By
A Lesson on Self-Righteousness: Lead By Shiline Varpilah
What is self-righteousness?
When you judge others or see them as less than or inferior to you because of where you believe you are in your spiritual journey. Whether you know it or not, acting in self-righteousness can lead to a sense of moral superiority.
Mathew 23:1-14
In the Bible, Jesus often spoke out against the Pharisees who were known as the religious leaders of the community.
We see that the Pharisees were so caught up in their own rules and traditions. On the outside, they appeared righteous, but on the inside, they were completely missing the true meaning of the faith they claimed to be loyal to.
“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi.' "Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your Father. And don't let anyone call you 'Teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. You won't go in yourselves, and you don't let others enter either.”
This behavior is a clear example of self-righteousness. When you are so focused on appearances, instead of truly trying to work in your faith, you are blocking any chance you have at building a relationship with God.
This warning from Jesus should be taken to heart. In previous meetings, Martha has pointed out how sometimes when visiting certain churches, you may find pastors who are living in sin themselves.
Mark 7:1-15
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.”
The Pharisees prioritized their traditions and values over God's commands all while lying to the people, claiming that their way of doing things was God’s will.
Unfortunately, there are still people out there who act in ways similar to the Pharisees. Be wary of people who seek power in this way as they will try to take advantage of your desire to grow closer to God.
Don’t ever be afraid to review your Bible and verify.
They will create false scriptures, take scriptures out of context, all to manipulate you into following their own agenda. This type of manipulation is not limited to churches or “religious leaders”. It also occurs frequently on social media platforms. Some may not even realize that they are spreading false truths
Sadly, many people are driven away from church or religion altogether because of this
Luke 18:9-14
The Pharisee, praised and respected among his peers, prays about himself, boasting to God about his “good deeds,” while the tax collector, despised by his peers, humbly asks for God’s mercy.
This is another great example of how unimportant outside appearances and reputation are in comparison to humility and genuine repentance.
“I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Personally, I like to call this scripture the key to avoiding self-righteousness.
Paul empathizes how true servants of Christ view themselves as just that, “servants”, not as superior to others like the Pharisees.
The reality is that the people of this world will judge us whether we like it or not, regardless of our actions. Good or bad, love us or hate us. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that we must prioritize being faithful to God over impressing others.
God is the ultimate judge. Only He can truly see our hearts and know our motives.
This is why prioritizing inner transformation is key when growing in your faith.
“So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time––before the Lord returns. For He will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give each one whatever praise is due.”
Ending with Romans 14:1-12
Despite differing practices, we are all Christians working in our faith, accepted by God.
“Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else's servants?”
