The Barrier of Self-Righteousness
Read: Luke 7:39 “When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
The Pharisee judged the woman harshly. In his mind, she was the sinner and he was the righteous one. He saw himself as greater than this woman.
Self-righteousness is one of the greatest barriers to forgiveness because it convinces us that we don’t really need it. We become blind to our need for forgiveness and we focus on the sins of others.
When we focus on the faults of others, we lose sight of our own need for grace. Sadly, we all do it from time to time. This does not surprise God at all. But He calls us to recognize our own need for grace and come to Him.
The truth is that everyone stands in need of God’s forgiveness. When we remember this, our hearts soften toward both God and others.
Reflection: Have you ever minimized your own need for forgiveness while focusing on someone else’s faults?
Prayer: God, protect my heart from pride. Help me remember that I am also in need of your mercy everyday. Amen.
