What Does the Bible Say About Self-righteousness?

Luke 18:9-14 ESV / 16 helpful votes

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!’ ...

Romans 14:10-13 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Isaiah 64:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

2 Peter 1:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 3:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Philippians 3:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

1 Timothy 2:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 4:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Mark 12:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

1 John 4:19-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 17:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 14:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Luke 18:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

Luke 18:1-43 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” ...

Matthew 22:40 ESV / 3 helpful votes

On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 5:43-45 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Revelation 22:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

1 John 5:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Hebrews 11:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 10:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

Titus 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

1 Timothy 6:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ephesians 2:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Romans 14:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Romans 5:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Romans 4:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.

Romans 4:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

Romans 3:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 1:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Romans 1:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Acts 20:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 14:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

Acts 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

John 1:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Luke 6:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Mark 12:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Mark 11:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Mark 10:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

Matthew 22:36-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 5:27-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Hosea 13:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Psalm 90:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Genesis 3:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

63 Bible Verses about Self-righteousness

Luke 18:9-14 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 14:10-13 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 64:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 1:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 3:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 4:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 12:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:19-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 17:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 18:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 18:1-43 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:40 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:43-45 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 22:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 5:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 11:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 10:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 6:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 14:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 4:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 4:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 20:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 14:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 12:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 11:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 10:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:36-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:27-28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hosea 13:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 9:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 90:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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