路加福音第十八章第9—14节耶稣通过比较一个法利赛人和一个税吏的祷告讲了一个比喻，目的是要说明在这个法利赛人和这个税吏之间谁可以算为义人。那些仗着自己是义人的人就是自以为义的人，比如法利赛人，他们觉得自己做的比别人好而瞧不起别人，祷告的时候说什么一周能做到禁食两次，凡所得的都捐上了十分之一。罗马书说他们想要立自己的义，就是不服神的义了。而那个税吏在殿里祷告的时候远远的站着，连举目望天也不敢，只捶着胸说“神阿，开恩可怜我这个罪人”。可见，这个税吏能认识到自己是罪人，而法利赛人却不能。因此，耶稣说这个税吏比那个法利赛人倒算为义了，因为凡自高的必降为卑，卑的必升为高。

路18:9 耶稣向那些仗着自己是义人、藐视别人的、设一个比喻、
He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
路18:10 说、有两个人上殿里去祷告．一个是法利赛人、一个是税吏。
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
路18:11 法利赛人站着、自言自语的祷告说、 神阿、我感谢你、我不像别人、勒索、不义、奸淫、也不像这个税吏。
The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
路18:12 我一个礼拜禁食两次、凡我所得的、都捐上十分之一。
I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
路18:13 那税吏远远的站着、连举目望天也不敢、只捶着胸说、 神阿、开恩可怜我这个罪人。
But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
路18:14 我告诉你们、这人回家去、比那人倒算为义了．因为凡自高的、必降为卑．自卑的、必升为高。
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
罗10:3 因为不知道神的义、想要立自己的义、就不服神的义了。
For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God.