Self-righteousness has a way of making a person blind to the truth of their own circumstances. The self-righteous are unable to see they have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The religious establishment of Jesus’ day suffered from this spiritual blindness. They could easily see the faults of the tax collectors and prostitutes, but failed to see their own faults. Jesus even tried to bring this to light in the act of clearing the temple of money changers, since they were making God’s house a “robbers den” (Matt. 21:13). Yet, the self-righteous leaders still could not see their error.

To help the self-righteous realize their situation, Jesus tells this story:
But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, “Son, go work today in the vineyard.” And he answered, “I will not.” But afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, “I will, sir.” But he did not go” (Matt. 21:28-30).

It is a simple enough story. And one can easily understand which son did the right thing. Moreover, when Jesus asks: “Which of the two did the will of his father?” The religious leaders rightly answered: “The first.” (Matt. 21:31a).

Jesus then gets to the heart of the matter in telling the religious leaders just how they fit into the story. He says, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him” (Matt. 21:31b-32).

The self-righteous religious leaders were those who made it known they were all about doing God’s will…doing the right thing…living righteously…separating themselves from “sinners.” Yet, in spite of it all, they really failed in doing what God wanted them to do. They still sinned. They fell short of the glory of God. They could only see themselves as being on the right track, without ever realizing they wandered off the path into the wilderness of sin. They failed to see the God of salvation through the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Lost sinners were found and restored into a right relationship with God on account of Jesus Christ, but the religious leaders despised those who were outside their circle of self-righteousness.

I find it is so easy to build up a wall of separation, and live with an “us against them” attitude to others. Shun anyone who simply does not fit into the way I do things. Yet, this is simply not the way. The reality is that I too enter by grace into the ark of salvation by the same Door as everyone else. All of us have said “I will not.” But Christ, help us to see our error, turn around, and do the will of the Father.

~ WGN
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Published by Warren Nozaki

Hello, my name is Warren Nozaki. I typically blog on topics related to Christian apologetics. Check out what is posted, leave a comment if you like. I work at the Christian Research Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. I also create sonic landscapes on the electric guitar.

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