The Trap of Spiritual Pride

⁹ Also, He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise 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; (Luke 18:9-14)

Sometimes, we think we’ve got it all figured out. We have our morning devotions, attend church regularly, and even participate in serving the Lord and His people. But it's easy to slide into the trap of spiritual pride, losing sight of the grace that sustains us every day. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector offers a stern warning against spiritual pride and shows us the path to true righteousness.

Spiritual Pride in the Pharisee

1. Self-Righteousness:

The Pharisee felt he was above others. His prayer was more of a self-congratulatory monologue than a humble conversation with God. Romans 12:3 cautions us, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment."

2. Judgmental Attitude:

The Pharisee judges his character not by the holy character of God but by the character of other men. Whenever you judge your character not by the holy character of God but by the character of other men, you are walking in pride.

He despised the tax collector and compared himself favourably against him. Matthew 7:1-2 warns, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

3. False Security in Works:

The Pharisee found assurance in his actions - fasting twice a week, giving tithes, etc. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast."

4. Lack of Repentance:

The Pharisee’s prayer lacked a crucial element: repentance. There was no acknowledgement of his sin or need for God’s mercy. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

The Dangers of Spiritual Pride

A) Blinds Us to Our Own Faults:

The Pharisee was so engrossed in his self-righteousness that he couldn't see his own spiritual blindness.

B) Divides the Community:

Spiritual pride sets up barriers in the body of Christ, destroying the unity that Christ prayed for in John 17:21.

C) Blocks Our Relationship with God:

The Pharisee's prayer never truly reached God because it was saturated with ego. James 4:6 tells us, “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.”

D) Makes Us Vulnerable to satan’s Deception:

When we think we're standing tall, we are most prone to fall. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be alert because satan, like a roaring lion, is looking for someone to devour.

The Trap of Spiritual Pride

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