Kingsley Nwaekwe

This Pharisee talked about all the great things he thinks he has done.

However, the tax collector, he knew he was a sinner and undeserving of God's love and mercy.

He knew that he needed to be forgiven and he called out for mercy.

Jesus teaches that true purity, holiness, and righteousness do not come from our actions.

It comes from the grace and mercy that Jesus gives us.

The Pharisees' pride blocked him from seeing his need for mercy.

He was righteous in his own eyes.

However, the tax collector was justified because he recognized his need for the mercy of God.

He was righteous because God made him righteous through his confession.

The difference between self-righteousness and righteousness really comes down to motive.

The self-righteous, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, do good things in order to be seen by others.

There's always an agenda.

Those who are self-righteous want to look good in the public eye.

Even deeper than that, they often think that the good things they do earn favor with God.

We often see this today in the prosperity movement.

Many in this movement think that because they have followed the rules of God, they have earned the favor of God for protection from the sickness and brokenness of the world.

While the action is good, the motive is off.

However, those who are truly righteous do good out of the love for God.

They have a true purity, holiness, and righteousness.

They know there's nothing they can ever do to earn the love of God.