Broken Rightly

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” http://biblehub.com/esv/luke/18.htm vs. 9-14

There is a brokenness which leads to life (http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/7-10.htm) represented by the "tax collector" in Jesus' parable. This brokenness is characterized by: a recognition of your own sinfulness & guilt before God, His rightness in judgment against you, & His graciousness in extending mercy. This brokenness doesn't make excuses for sin or base appeal on merit. This brokenness is commended by Jesus because it glorifies God.