Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8700 Threats to the life of faith  »  8823 self-righteousness  »  8824 self-righteousness, nature of

Self-righteousness fosters the sinful human illusions of sinlessness, sufficiency and freedom.

The claim to self-righteousness

Romans 10:3 See also Luke 10:29; Luke 18:9; Philippians 3:4-6

The illusion of self-righteousness

That people are sinless

1 John 1:8 See also Proverbs 20:9; Hosea 12:8

That people are guiltless

Proverbs 16:2 See also Jeremiah 2:34-35

That people are deserving

Deuteronomy 9:4 See also Ezekiel 28:2

The results of self-righteousness

Self-deception

1 John 1:5-6 See also Proverbs 30:12; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 23:23-24,27-28; Luke 16:15; Hebrews 3:13

A sense of superiority

Luke 18:9-11 See also Philippians 2:3; Colossians 2:16-18

Separation from God

1 John 1:10 See also Zephaniah 3:11; 2 Corinthians 10:18; Galatians 5:4

Examples of self-righteousness

Numbers 16:3 some Israelites opposed to Moses; 1 Samuel 15:13-21 Saul; Psalm 10:5 the wicked

The Pharisees:

Luke 16:14; Luke 18:9-14; John 9:39-41 Revelation 3:17-18 the church at Laodicea

See also

5961  superiority
6020  sin
6121  boasting
6145  deceit
8714  dishonesty
8767  hypocrisy
8802  pride
8822  self-justification