Stand Up For Jesus

The Self-Righteous Study

Hannah Erb

21 Jul 2026 — 6 min read

I was provoked to study self-righteousness because I have been called so a time or two, and I know that I am not the only one. It seems that when I used scripture to reprove, rebuke or exhort someone is when they, or someone that was in ear-shot would accuse me of being self-righteous. I definitely don't want to be self-righteous. Or hurt anyone intentionally with scripture. So I took a step back and considered, "Am I really self-righteous?". Here is what the Lord showed me.

Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

According to Hosea 14:9, not everyone will understand this study. In fact, some will just call me self-righteous for posting it. The verse also says that the just will walk in the right ways of the LORD. That is all that I am doing. It is not my righteousness, the LORD is my righteousness.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CALLED A PHARISEE?

The wrong use of Luke 18:9-14 where a Pharisee goes up to the temple to pray was thrown at me because I was using scripture to correct someone. They accused me of exalting myself over those that don't know a lot of scripture, like the Pharisee was doing.

Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

I am including this study in the "Subtilty of Satan" or "Simplicity of Christ" studies because there are some Nicolaitans that do "conquer the laity" and exalt themselves over the people by saying they are righteous and know more scripture. For example, most pastors of protestant churches do this. Also, the pope or other offices in different religions will do this (JW's, Mormon, Apostolic, etc.). This is the subtilty of Satan. There is a way that people use scripture deceitfully to have power over others. But that is not what one does when they are using scripture to reprove or exhort someone. Have some God given discernment. This is one of the ways that Satan discourages Christians from using the word.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RIGHTEOUS

We are commanded to live righteously:

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Paul wrote in II Timothy 2 to follow righteousness and then in chapter 4 he says to reprove, rebuke, and exhort...with doctrine. Therefore, it is a righteous thing to do to share scripture when you see something wrong that needs reproof. It is by no means being "self-righteous". This is what God has of us! This is not "using scripture to be mean" like I have been accused of (and I am sure I'm not the only one).

II Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

II Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

If you have the interest, read Romans chapter 6 and think about how we are commanded to be righteous. It is not a wrong thing to be righteous. Even if someone is "self-righteous" what is wrong with that? A lost person that has some righteousness to them is a good thing! But of course, that is not what the person means when they say "self-righteous". What they are really saying is that, "you are shining your light to bright on my sin, stop that now!!"

Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Do not yield to Satan on this one, brethren! If you are rightly dividing the word (II Timothy 2:15), using scripture honestly, that is what you are supposed to do. That is not being mean, and your are not self-righteous.

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW VS. OF FAITH

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

God gives the definition of "self-righteousness" in Philippians 3:9. It is of the law. So keeping the law is what makes you self-righteous. It is not sharing scripture to reprove someone. The people that use this "self-righteous" stunt do not even have the biblical definition of it. The self-righteous people are those who do not trust in Jesus Christ, but they trust in their own works to save them. If that sounds like you, maybe you are self-righteous. But I don't see how anyone that uses scripture to show others what they are doing wrong have their own righteousness. It is God's word they are presenting...that would be the righteousness of GOD!

In Romans 10 we see this contrast again. The righteousness of the law and the righteousness of God. If you read verses 1-3 you see Israel going about to establish their own righteousness. Then the rest of the chapter shows the righteousness of God. And what does it say?? It's one of the most well used passages for the GOSPEL! That is the righteousness of God. Let me show you some of those verses:

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The righteousness of God is all about preaching the word. So, no, a Christian is not establishing their own righteousness when sharing the word of faith. This is what we are commanded to do. Lost or proud people will hate it because they hated Christ before they hated you.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

USING SCRIPTURE DOES NOT MAKE YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS

II Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We are ambassadors for Christ. No ambassador goes to share their own opinion with other countries. They represent their king with offical letters. Same for us. Christians use God's word to reach others. Doing so is not exalting yourself over someone. Although, I am sure some do that (subtly of Satan). Make sure you don't handle the word deceitfully and use it to edify and rebuke (Ephesians 5:11).

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

We are commanded to do these things by the word of God. Please don't let Satan blow out your light by using someone in your family, a friend or a stranger to convince you of being self-righteous when you're not!