Note 2 at Mt. 21:31: These sinners were entering the kingdom of God ahead of these very religious Jews because they knew they were sinners and they put faith in a Savior. One of the deadliest things about religious self-righteousness is the deception that we will be saved because of our good deeds.

That kind of thinking makes us our own Savior. That will never work because regardless of how good we may be, "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). We cannot save ourselves regardless of how good we act. Who wants to be the best sinner that ever was sent to Hell? Only people who are sinners can be saved (Rom. 6:19), and self-righteous people won't admit they are sinners.