What does the Bible say about self righteousness?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• Luke 18:9-14

  [9] He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. [10] "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.' [13] But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

• Romans 14:1

  Now receive one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.

• Titus 3:5

  not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

• 1 John 4:19-21

  [19] We love Him, because he first loved us. [20] If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? [21] This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

• Romans 10:3

  For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

• Ephesians 2:8-9

  [8] for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, that no one would boast.

• Proverbs 30:12

  There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, Yet are not washed from their filthiness.

• 2 Timothy 1:7

  For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

• Isaiah 64:6

  For we are all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

• Galatians 2:16

  yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

Study outline

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