²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself,^(A) so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

¹⁵ He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves^(A) in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.^(B) What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

² If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.^(A)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness^(A) and looked down on everyone else,^(B) Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray,^(C) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself^(D) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

³⁴ The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.^(A) Love them as yourself,^(B) for you were foreigners^(C) in Egypt.^(D) I am the Lord your God.

¹¹ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,^(A) because “the righteous will live by faith.”^[a](B)

³ Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.^(A)

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a](A) and hate your enemy.’^{(B) 44} But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^(C)