³ If anyone thinks they are something^(A) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^(B)

²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect,^(A) go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,^(B) and you will have treasure in heaven.^(C) Then come, follow me.”

²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?^(A) Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?^(B) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray,^(A) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself^(B) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast^(C) twice a week and give a tenth^(D) of all I get.’

¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast^(E) and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’^(F)

¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”^(G)

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me^(A) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another.^(A) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[a] Do not be conceited.^(B)

¹⁵ If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.^(A) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.^(B)

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak^(A) and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good,^(B) to build them up.^{(C) 3} For even Christ did not please himself^(D) but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a](E)

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise^(A) by the standards of this age,^(B) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.