Self-Righteousness.
I. We are not saved from the danger of self-righteousness by our full knowledge and hearty recognition of the doctrines of grace. The Pharisee did not dream of taking to himself the credit of the excellence which he supposed himself to have attained to. He acknowledged it to be all God's work in him. He carries with him the spirit of trusting to himself that he is righteous, and despising others, at the very moment that he is thanking God who has made him to differ from them.
II. Righteousness is not self-righteousness. The irreligious man is apt to set down as self-righteous every one who can claim to be better than he pretends to be. There is nothing wrong in being righteous, or in doing good works. The only thing to be frightened about is, if the righteousness be not real, or the works not truly good. The less the real righteousness, the greater the danger of self-righteousness.
III. The best practical rule for avoiding the dangers which arise from comparing ourselves with others is to strive to keep ever before our minds as our rule of life, the character of Him who gave us an example, that we should follow in Hissteps. There is no example, but one, which may not mislead us mislead us even when we have succeeded in arriving at the standard we aim at, or in going beyond it. There is but One in striving to resemble whom we can never be led astray; One whose character the more closely we study and the more thoroughly we love, the more nearly we approach to be perfect, even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect. The contemplation of such an Example, and the contrast which you know yourself to be, cannot but deepen your sense of sin, and drive you to the supplication "God, be merciful to me sinner.
G. Salmon, Non-miraculous Christianity,p. 187.
References: Luke 18:14. R. Winterbotham, Sermons and Expositions,p. 243; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. v., p. 31.Luke 18:15; Luke 18:16. J. Vaughan, Sermons to Children,3rd series, p. 72.Luke 18:15-17. Shepherd, Thursday Penny Pulpit,vol. vi., p. 309. Luke 18:15-27. A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve,p. 251.