¹⁸ For ^(A)not he who commends himself is approved, but ^(B)whom the Lord commends.

¹⁵ And He said to them, “You are those who ^(A)justify yourselves ^(B)before men, but ^(C)God knows your hearts. For ^(D)what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

^5 (A)Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to ^(B)light the hidden things of darkness and ^(C)reveal the ^[a]counsels of the hearts. ^(D)Then each one’s praise will come from God.

²⁹ but he is a Jew ^(A)who is one inwardly; and ^(B)circumcision is that of the heart, ^(C)in the Spirit, not in the letter; ^(D)whose ^[a]praise is not from men but from God.

Limits of Paul’s Authority

^12 (A)For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

^43 (A)for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee ^(A)stood and prayed thus with himself, ^(B)‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise 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; ^(C)for everyone who exalts himself will be ^[a]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”