Luke 18:9

¶ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

And {G1161} he spake {G2036}{G2532} this {G5026} parable {G3850} unto {G4314} certain {G5100} which {G3588} trusted {G3982} in {G1909} themselves {G1438} that {G3754} they were {G1526} righteous {G1342}, and {G2532} despised {G1848} others {G3062}:

Also, to some who were relying on their own righteousness and looking down on everyone else, he told this parable:

To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:

And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:

Luke 18:9 serves as the crucial introduction to one of Jesus' most insightful parables, often known as the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. This verse immediately sets the stage by identifying the specific audience Jesus intended to address and the core spiritual malady He aimed to expose: self-righteousness and contempt for others.

Context

This verse directly follows the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8), which emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer. Here, the focus shifts from the act of prayer to the heart attitude of those praying and their standing before God. Jesus specifically addresses "certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." This group likely included Pharisees or those with similar attitudes, who meticulously followed the Mosaic Law and oral traditions, believing their strict adherence earned them favor with God. The parable that follows, detailed in Luke 18:10-14, directly illustrates the dangers and ultimate futility of self-righteousness compared to true humility and repentance.

Key Themes

  • Self-Righteousness: The primary issue highlighted is an over-reliance on one's own perceived goodness or achievements for salvation or acceptance by God. This is a false righteousness derived from human effort rather than divine grace. Such an attitude prevents genuine humility and repentance, as it blinds individuals to their true spiritual need.
  • Pride and Humility: The verse sets the stage for a stark contrast between the proud heart that exalts itself based on its own merits and the humble heart that acknowledges its need for God's mercy. This theme resonates with the biblical principle that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6).
  • Despising Others: A direct and dangerous consequence of self-righteousness is looking down on others. If one believes they are superior in righteousness, they naturally view those who don't meet their standards with disdain or contempt. This reveals a profound lack of love and compassion, which are fundamental to God's law and the true spirit of the kingdom (Matthew 22:39).

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "trusted in themselves that they were righteous" translates the Greek pepoithotas eph' heautois hoti eisin dikaioi. Pepoithotas implies a deep-seated confidence or reliance, emphasizing that their trust was placed in themselves (eph' heautois) rather than in God or His provision.
  • "Despised others" comes from the Greek exouthenountas tous loipous. Exouthenountas means to set at naught, to treat as worthless, to utterly disregard, or to hold in contempt. This highlights the severe contempt these individuals held for those they deemed less righteous or "the rest."

Practical Application

Luke 18:9 serves as a timeless challenge for all believers to examine the true source of their confidence before God. Do we rely on our good deeds, religious observances, moral standing, or perceived spiritual achievements for our acceptance? Or do we humbly acknowledge our sinfulness and depend entirely on God's grace and mercy for justification, as exemplified by the publican in the ensuing parable? This verse powerfully reminds us against spiritual arrogance and encourages a spirit of humility, compassion, and genuine love for all people, recognizing that all stand in need of God's saving grace.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 16:15

    And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

  • Proverbs 30:12

    [There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness.

  • Isaiah 65:5

    Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These [are] a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

  • 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 14:10

    But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

  • Romans 9:31

    But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

  • Romans 9:32

    Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

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