<p>18:9 <i>And he spoke also this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt</i>- The theme continues from the previous parable. There, the woman representing us prays for justice. &quot;Justice&quot; and &quot;righteousness&quot; are connected ideas in Hebrew and Greek thought. The woman wanted justice / righteousness; but she did not have it of herself. It had to be granted by a judge, and we are in relationship with the just judge, who alone gives justice / righteousness. Those who think they are righteous of themselves do not therefore fear God and they therefore despise men, just as the unjust judge did. The Pharisee who &quot;treated others with contempt&quot; therefore equates with the unjust judge of whom we have just read; and the woman desperately begging for justice is the tax collector begging for forgiveness, for rightness with God, who goes down to his house justified, with justice / righteousness, just as the widow went away with justice.</p><p>Paul alludes here when he says that the sentence of death we have within our bodies requires a bodily resurrection and transformation of the body far beyond our power to achieve; and therefore we cannot trust in ourselves, i.e. our own righteousness (2 Cor. 1:9). Rather must we cast ourselves upon God's grace.</p><p>The Lord was &quot;despised&quot;, the same word here translated 'to treat with contempt' (23:11; Acts 4:11). Those despised by religionists are fellowshipping their Lord's sufferings; and the religionists by doing so are taking the side of His abusers.</p>