New Testament Verses Condemning Self-Righteousness
New Testament Verses Condemning Self-Righteousness
The New Testament condemns self-righteousness in several passages, emphasizing that it is a form of pride and a barrier to true righteousness. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their self-righteousness, saying they "appear righteous before men, but God knows your hearts" (Luke 16:15) [1]. In Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their external righteousness, stating that they clean the outside of the cup but leave the inside unclean.
The apostle Paul also addresses self-righteousness, particularly in Romans 10:3, where he notes that the Jews "being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, have not submitted to God's righteousness" [4]. This highlights the distinction between a self-generated righteousness and the righteousness that comes from God. According to Charles Hodge, this "righteousness of God" is a justifying righteousness authored by God, in contrast to human righteousness, which is "valueless" [4].
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, where the Pharisee's self-righteousness is contrasted with the tax collector's humility (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee's prayer, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men" (Luke 18:11), exemplifies self-righteousness, as he compares himself favorably to others [1].
The New Testament also warns against the dangers of self-delusion, which can lead to self-righteousness. Proverbs 14:12 states, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" [2]. This theme is echoed in Ecclesiastes 7:16, where the Preacher warns against being "righteous overmuch," which is interpreted by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown as a warning against a "self-made righteousness of outward performances" that seeks to wrest salvation from God rather than receiving it as a gift [3].
The Jewish tradition also recognizes the dangers of self-righteousness. The Babylonian Talmud lists "seven pseudo-righteous people who erode the world," including those who are "righteous due to love" or "righteous due to fear," suggesting that even motivations that seem virtuous can be tainted by self-righteousness [7, 8].
In Philippians 2:14, Paul exhorts believers to "do all things without grumbling or disputing," warning that complaining and arguing arise from self-centeredness [6, 9]. This self-centeredness is a hallmark of self-righteousness, which is contrary to the sacrificial love that believers are called to embody (Philippians 2:4) [6].
The New Testament's condemnation of self-righteousness is not limited to individual actions but also addresses the underlying attitudes and motivations. According to John Calvin, human beings tend to be pleased with their own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue, but when they reflect on God's perfection, their self-righteousness is revealed to be "polluted with the greatest iniquity" [5].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Righteousness — Man is prone to -- Pr 20:6; 30:12. Hateful to God -- Lu 16:15. Is vain because our righteousness is But external. -- Mt 23:25-28; Lu 11:39-44. But partial. -- Mt 23:25; Lu 11:44. No better than filthy rags. -- Isa 64:6. Ineffectual for salvation. -- Job 9:30,31; Mt 5:20; Ro 3:20. Unprofitable. -- Isa 57:12. Is boastful -- Mt 23:30. They who are given to Audaciously approach God. -- Lu 18:11. Seek to justify themselves. -- Lu 10:29. Seek to justify themselves before men. -- Lu 16:15. Reject the righteousness of God. -- Ro 10:3. Condemn others. -- ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Delusion — A characteristic of the wicked -- Ps 49:18. Prosperity frequently leads to -- Ps 30:6; Ho 12:8; Lu 12:17-19. Obstinate sinners often given up to -- Ps 81:11,12; Ho 4:17; 2Th 2:10,11. Exhibited in thinking that Our own ways are right. -- Pr 14:12. We should adhere to established wicked practices. -- Jer 44:17. We are pure. -- Pr 30:12. We are better than others. -- Lu 18:11. We are rich in spiritual things. -- Re 3:17. We may have peace while in sin. -- De 29:19. We are above adversity. -- Ps 10:6. Gifts entitle us to heaven. -- Mt 7:21,22. Privileges ”
- Ecclesiastes (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ecclesiastes 7:16: HOLDEN makes Ecc 7:16 the scoffing inference of the objector, and Ecc 7:17 the answer of Solomon, now repentant. So (Co1 15:32) the skeptic's objection; (Co1 15:33) the answer. However, "Be not righteous over much," may be taken as Solomon's words, forbidding a self-made righteousness of outward performances, which would wrest salvation from God, instead of receiving it as the gift of His grace. It is a fanatical, pharisaical righteousness, separated from God; for the "fear of God" is in antithesis to it (Ecc 7:18; Ecc 5:3, Ecc 5:7; Mat 6:1-7; Ma”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 23: man’s “own righteousness” is that which would render him righteous, then “the righteousness of God,” in this connection, must be a justifying righteousness. It is called the righteousness of God, because, as said before, He is its author. It is the righteousness of Christ. It is provided, offered, and accepted of God. Here then are two righteousnesses; the one human, the other divine; the one valueless, the other infinitely meritorious. The folly of the Jews, and of thousands since their day, consists in refusing the latter and trusting t”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 17: earth, we are quite pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms, and seem only less than demigods. But should we once begin to raise our 39 thoughts to God, and reflect what kind of Being he is, and how absolute the perfection of that righteousness, and wisdom, and virtue, to which, as a standard, we are bound to be conformed, what formerly delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest iniquity; what strangely imposed upon us unde”
- Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 2:14: 2:14 Complaining and arguing arise from self-centeredness (see 1 Cor 10:10; 1 Pet 4:9; Jude 1:16), whereas believers are called to sacrificial love (Phil 2:4).”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99a.44:2: § It states in the mishna: And those who injure themselves out of false abstinence [ perushin ] are people who erode the world. The Sages taught: There are seven pseudo- righteous people who erode the world: The righteous of Shechem, the self- flagellating righteous, the bloodletting righteous, the pestle -like righteous, the righteous who say: Tell me what my obligation is and I will perform it, those who are righteous due to love, and those who are righteous due to fear.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99b.44:2: § It states in the mishna: And those who injure themselves out of false abstinence [ perushin ] are people who erode the world. The Sages taught: There are seven pseudo- righteous people who erode the world: The righteous of Shechem, the self- flagellating righteous, the bloodletting righteous, the pestle -like righteous, the righteous who say: Tell me what my obligation is and I will perform it, those who are righteous due to love, and those who are righteous due to fear.”
- Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 2:14: 2:14 Complaining and arguing arise from self-centeredness (see 1 Cor 10:10; 1 Pet 4:9; Jude 1:16), whereas believers are called to sacrificial love (Phil 2:4).”