Luke 18:11-14 KJV{This is a story people often use to teach that "no one is righteous" and that when you are asked to 'humble and accept yourself as a sinner" and you refuse, you are a called Pharisee. But is that really the point here?}
(11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
(12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
{That will mean it's teaching us not to fast or give. So will that be correct?}
(13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The point isn't that God wants us to come "as a sinner" and make a lifestyle out of that, everyday smiting our breast saying "God,I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner", just like he's not saying, "stop giving in church". We need to really see what is wrong in the right conducts.
"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus {pros} with himself"
The word translated "with" there is "pros" which could be better translated as "by".
The Pharisee stood BY himself
He prayed BY himself
He stood BY his merit
He stood and prayed by his own works and credentials
