Luke 18:9-14
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.”
Thinking Deep
·
Parable was told to people who trusted in themselves.
·
People who trusted in themselves thought they are good enough to be acceptable
for God.
·
Since they are good enough, others who are not so good were looked upon with contempt.
·
Standing by himself, a usual posture by a
Pharisee. Shows the confidence they
had to come before God.
·
He thanked
God, but only in His words. The prayer is all about ‘I’ and not ‘God’
·
Although he went to pray, the Pharisee gave a report assuming he was accepted
because of what he had done
·
He never expected anything from God, as he
assumed he was approved an accepted by God, because of his works
Comparing the two characters
|
o
Pharisee
|
o
Tax Collector
|
|
o
Went to pray
|
o
Went to Pray
|
|
o
Called on God
|
o
Called on God
|
|
o
Standing by himself
|
o
Standing far off, not looking up
|
|
o
Reported the good he
did
|
o
Only remembered his sins
|
|
o
Sought nothing
|
o
Sought mercy
|
|
o
Expected nothing
|
o
Expected mercy
|
|
o
Self Satisfied
|
o
Justified
|
Reflections on the text
What were the similarities between the Pharisee
and the Tax collector here?
·
How were they different?
·
How were there prayer different?
·
How did the tax collector humble himself? or Looking at the tax collectors
prayer:
·
I am not good enough for God
·
I cannot do it myself
·
I need his mercy
Practical Reflections
Can you identify a Pharisee in your life that you have met?
Are we good enough for God?
Can we be good enough for God?
What do we seek from God?
Why do we need what we seek?
"Humble people do not
trust in themselves but trusts in God"
