He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' 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!' I tell you, this men went down to his house justified rather then the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 18:9-14
Clearly Jesus is tell us that people who trust in themself's and put them self's above others may be exalted on earth, for in heaven (if they get there) they will be humbled. Notice how the Pharisee says "God, I think thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector." He is doing just that, saying that he is better and less of a sinner then them. Yet no matter what we do, we are all equal in one way, we are sinners. Then he gloats about it saying, "I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get." Once again, putting himself above others, as Jesus points out many times in the gospels, it is not what men see, but what God see's in us. Is our heart in the right place? God knows where our hearts are, so trying to hide it is impossible. Those things he did where noble, but was he doing them to look good before men, or God? Clearly from what Jesus teaches us, the Pharisees are out to please men not God. That is why he says many times in all the gospels, "wow to you Pharisees."
(Pharisees: Members of a Jewish sect devoted to carrying out every rite and ceremony of the law with great strictness. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for neglecting the important things in life. (Luke 11: 42 - 43). Paul was a Pharisee (Acts 23:6) as was Nicodemus (Jn 3:1). The Pharisees adapted the old written Law to the new conditions of their day by means of oral interpretations.)
