Jesus told a parable about trusting in yourself – what did He say?  How did He define “trusting in yourself”?  Luke 18:9-14

Jesus spoke about a tax collector (a Jewish man who collected taxes for Rome and was hated!) and a Pharisee (a religious authority in the Jewish community).  Luke 18:9

Both men went up to the temple to pray.  Their attitudes were completely different before the living God to whom both prayed.  Luke 18:10

The Pharisee
Stood praying – to himself!  “God, I thank You that I am not like other people; swindlers, unjust adulterers, or even this tax collector.”
The Pharisee reminded God that “I fast twice a week and I pay tithes of all that I get.”
Commendable works with “I” as the most important word.  Luke 18:11-12

Trusting in yourself – is self-righteousness
Jesus told this parable to illustrate people who trust in themselves.  These people are self-righteous and view others with contempt.  The Pharisee was the example of such a person.
The Lord Jesus said that the Pharisee would be humbled.

The Tax Collector
He too was standing, but some distance away.
He was unwilling to lift his eyes to heaven… Perhaps his eyes were closed, so he could concentrate on his prayer to God.
He beat his chest, saying, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!”  Luke 18:13

Jesus included the tax collector, the man who humbled himself before the living God and he went home, justified in the sight of God.  Luke 18:14

~ Take it to heart ~

Psalm 4:1 NIV “Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”

True prayer recognizes our need of the living God.