Title: Holy but Haughty – The Trap of Spiritual Pride
Text: Luke 18:9–14 (ESV) “ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Introduction: What happens when righteousness becomes self-righteousness?
"Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all religious diseases. It feeds on orthodoxy, grows in the shadows of ministry, and disguises itself as righteousness while it quietly kills humility." — Jonathan Edwards
There’s a fine line between walking in holiness and falling into haughtiness.
A. Holiness is a beautiful thing. God calls us to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16).
Chuck Swindoll once recounted visiting a small, rundown chapel on a chilly autumn morning. Most of the congregation arrived early and milled around, chatting to stay warm. Chuck, however, slipped quietly to the front where a large, dusty stained-glass window dominated the sanctuary wall.
When the sun peeked over the horizon, its first rays struck the window. Suddenly, vibrant colors exploded across the walls and floor—deep reds, emerald greens, royal purples—painting the entire room in living light. For a moment, the gray morning vanished, replaced by breathtaking beauty.
Swindoll paused and reflected: “That’s holiness,” he said. “Ordinary glass—cracked and dust-covered—revealed its true splendor only when light passed through it. In the same way, our hearts, stained by sin and weariness, become radiant when God’s holy light shines through our lives.”
He concluded, “Thy holiness is a beautiful thing—not distant perfection, but the transforming light that changes us from the inside out.” In that moment, each person in the chapel understood that God’s holiness doesn’t condemn; it illuminates, refines, and reveals the beauty He alone can create.
B. Holiness is the joyful pursuit of becoming more like Jesus—loving what He loves, hating what He hates, and living in a way that honors Him.
But somewhere along the way, holiness can take a wrong turn. Instead of being humbled by grace, we begin to be puffed up by performance.
Righteousness becomes self-righteousness. We stop pointing to Christ and start polishing our own image.
Spiritual pride is sneaky because it often wears religious clothing. It speaks fluent church language, volunteers faithfully, and even leads small groups. But underneath the surface, it whispers: “At least I’m not like them.” That’s not new. Jesus told a story about it.
“God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” — Luke 18:11 (NIV)
That was the Pharisee’s prayer. And Jesus wasn’t impressed.
The tax collector, on the other hand, wouldn’t even lift his head. He beat his chest and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus said it was the humble man, not the proud one, who went home justified before God (Luke 18:14).
C. The Problem with Spiritual Pride
1. Spiritual pride creates division.
2. It builds walls instead of bridges.
3. It elevates personal effort and forgets grace.
4. It causes believers to become gatekeepers instead of gospel-sharers.
5. And worst of all, it blinds us to our own need for continual mercy.
Paul wrote, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…” (Romans 12:3).
And James reminded the church, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
When we confuse personal conviction with superiority, we begin grading others instead of loving them. We hold them to our standards instead of helping them see Jesus. Bill and Mary..their kids
D. What are the Signs of Spiritual Pride?
· Thinking you “have it more together” than others
· Harshness toward others' sins, but leniency toward your own
· Enjoying the spotlight of your spirituality more than the source (Christ)
· Being more concerned about being right than being kind
· Avoiding correction or input from others
John Ortberg tells the story of “The Potluck Comparison”
A few years ago I attended a church potluck that turned into an unintentional spiritual contest. As people carried in their dishes, I noticed a friendly—but fierce—energy brewing:
The Kale Salad Lady proudly announced she’d sourced every ingredient locally and stripped every leaf of its pesticide.
The Whole-Grain Quinoa Guy quipped that he only ate gluten-free, sugar-free, guilt-free foods.
The Organic Brown Rice Baker whispered conspiratorially that store-bought buns were an abomination.
Each of them genuinely meant well, but the air was thick with unspoken comparison: “My holiness salad is better than your starch casserole.”
I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ story in Luke 18:9–14, where the Pharisee lists his fasting and tithing as proof of spiritual superiority, while the tax collector simply pleads for mercy. Both came to the same “potluck” called worship—one with a garnish of pride, the other with a humble heart of need.
At the end of the meal, a plate of untended brownies sat alone, utterly unremarkable. Yet they were the hit of the evening—no one boasted about their origin or purity; people just ate them, laughed, and connected.
The Takeaway:
Holiness isn’t a buffet of bragging rights. It’s not about who has the “cleanest” dish or the strictest rule-book.
True grace tastes best when served humbly. Like the simple brownie, the gospel is sweet because it’s unpretentious and freely offered.
We’re all invited to the same table. Instead of comparing recipes, let’s share our failures, our need for mercy, and then feast together on the forgiveness Christ provides.
Next time you catch yourself sizing up another believer’s “dish,” remember: God’s table is big enough for all our messy stories—and He delights most in the humble heart that says, “Lord, have mercy on me.”
E. What is the Cure for Haughty Holiness?
The antidote to spiritual pride is simple: remember the gospel.
• You were not saved because you were good. You were saved because God is gracious. The cross is the great equalizer—we all come to Jesus the same way: empty-handed and in need of mercy.
• When you truly understand what you’ve been forgiven of, you stop looking down on others and start lifting them up.
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:31
Let your life be holy—but never forget who made it so.
Let’s Close With This Question:
“ Have I ever confused being spiritually “right” with being spiritually superior?”
1. Listen for Comparison
* Do you find yourself mentally ticking off how well you know Scripture compared to someone else?
* Gospel truth frees us—it doesn’t become a weapon for self-exaltation.
2. Watch Your Heart in Discussion
* When you engage in a theological debate, are you aiming to learn and love, or to “win” and feel superior?
* True spiritual maturity prizes humility over victory.
3. Notice Your Compassion—or Its Absence
* Does someone else’s struggle with doubt or sin make you feel frustrated or proud?
* A spirit marked by grace leans in to comfort, not to condemn.
4. Anchor in Your Identity
* Remember that your standing before God rests on Christ’s righteousness, not your own (Philippians 3:9).
* When you dwell in that grace, you’re less tempted to puff yourself up.
If you catch yourself confusing “right” with “better,” simply confess that pride to the Lord (1 John 1:9), ask Him to realign your heart, and reach out in genuine love to the very person you felt superior to. In doing so, you’ll discover that true spiritual “rightness” looks a lot more like Jesus—who humbled Himself so He could serve us all.
Prayer for Authentic Holiness: Lord, make our pursuit of holiness genuine and Christ-centered. Guard our hearts against seeking approval or admiration from others. Let our lives reflect Your transforming grace so purely that all honor goes to You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
