Psalm 8:1

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, foraging in Luke 18, again. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind on the issue of self-righteousness.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

I ruminated on some evidence of self-righteousness illustrated by the Pharisee.

The self-righteous create a standard of measurement that is usually limited to their own size. To illustrate what I mean, the self-righteous is someone who is 6’ who despises anyone over 6’ as too tall, and anyone under as too small. Also, usually, they omit what Jesus called the “weightier” matters of the Law (Matthew 23:13—judgment, mercy, and faith). The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable omitted pride, which is the basis of all that repulses God (Proverbs 6:16-17, pride tops the list of what God hates; see also Proverbs 8:13; see also James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5).

Another characteristic of self-righteousness is a focus on externals, things measurable by men. He boasted that he was not an extortioner—someone who obtains property by force or threats. That’s a behavior that is external, that is, it’s done in the world. But what about covetousness? That’s the same thing, only it’s done in the heart. He bragged that he was not “unjust.” We can see that he was unjust in his assumptions about the Publican, but he could not see it because he judged the Publican by his profession, having no personal knowledge of the man. He bragged that he was not an adulterer: another external measurement. He did not take into account Jesus’ exhortation that to lust after a woman is to commit adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28).

Regarding the “weightier” matters, the Pharisee failed in all three: he falsely judged the Publican, he exhibited no mercy, and he recommended himself to God on the basis of his works, and not on the basis of faith.

Along the still waters, I began exploring this matter. Sometimes, self-righteousness manifests in cultural standards in which, it seems to me, the “Christian” is satisfied that he is righteous, even more righteous than God.

Of course, the Christian I speak of does not make any such assertion. Let’s take the issue of language.

How many Christians are uncomfortable with the word bastard? God uses the word to identify a believer who is not genuinely born again (Hebrews 12:8). Who among us would comfortably describe a male as one that “pisseth against the wall” (1 Samuel 25:22, 34; 1 Kings 14:10; 16:11; 21:21; 2 Kings 9:8). How about describing someone as eating their own dung and drinking their own piss (2 Kings 18:27).

I understand that modern cultural niceties moderate our language, and what would be considered coarse language today would not have the same effect on 15th century ears. On the other hand, some of what has become common vernacular would have been considered unfit for the tongue of a gentleman only 30 years ago.*

I’m not arguing for a coarsening of our speech. I’m saying that it concerns me that some “Publicans” new to the faith might not speak with the tongue of the faithful and can offend sensibilities that are more concerned with externals than what might be going on in the heart. An emphasis on the “forms” of sanctification to the near total eclipse of what may be evidence of the heart’s dedication to the “weightier” matters is a manifestation of “self-righteous” judgment. The same sort of self-righteousness that blinded the Pharisee from seeing the greater righteousness being exhibited by the Publican he scorned.

In the valley, Jesus called me to the Cross and bade me take it up. He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. We hurried into the harvest. I looked back, and there they were: goodness and mercy following.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v76a8pw-shepherds-pasture.html

[*Some say the KJV translators demonstrated sensitivity to this issue in their translation of שִׂ֧יחַ — see´-akh: 1 Kings 18:27. Strong’s identifies this word as 7879 (not 7873 as most apps indicate). The idea is that Elijah mocked the Baal worshippers, asking whether their god had perhaps withdrawn to the privy (toilet). This is premised on the assumption that 1 Kings 18:27 uses שִׂיג — seeg, Strong 7873, which means to withdraw into a private place. An assumption is added that this meant he had gone to the bathroom. The expression used to speak of one relieving himself is “to cover one’s feet” (Judges 3:24; 1 Samuel 24:3). It seems that if this is what Elijah was saying, he would have asked whether Baal had withdrawn to “cover his feet.” Nevertheless, this is not the word used in 1 Kings 18:27. As pointed out above, it’s Strong No. 7879, and conveys the idea of removing himself to ponder, or to have withdrawn to consider their prayer, to think it over. The point is, 1 Kings 18:27 does not provide an illustration of the KJV translators accommodating the contemporary tastes of their peers.]