Luke 18: 9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ’God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.‘
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbled himself will be exalted.”
The Pharisee’s arrogance stood between him and God. It was sinful. He needed to knock down others and then stand on them to feel good about himself. Somehow, he thought God wasn’t noticing this? Arrogance is laughable in God’s presence. God knows what is in our heart.
Lord above, I need to be more aware of my own arrogance, and snuff it out quickly. I am no better than any other. I know this is true. Amen
Becky, transforming
pic by Kay
March 10, 2022
Luke 18:9-14
In this world or the next, I just can't imagine praying to God, telling him how great I am. Prayers have to be sincere and come from one's heart. Of these two men the Pharisee's prayer was arrogant and self righteous, all about himself. He was only focused on himself and not God. The second man, a despicable tax collector, humbled himself and quietly with a repentant heart acknowledged himself as a sinner asking God to help him. because of his humble prayer a lifetime of sins were wiped away. Humility and faith in prayer is powerful. I know that I can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything. I don't have to be arrogant an…
Luke 18:9-14 The Pharisees and other religious leaders in the New Testament had forgotten the reason for prayer and humbleness. They could not be missed on the streets in their fine and expensive clothing. They got the best of the gifts brought to the temple. What the Pharisee in the story had forgotten most of all was to praise God and ask for forgiveness when he prayed. Instead he praised himself and spoke ill of others. We know God heard his arrogance. The tax collector, however, asked God for forgiveness for his sins, we know God heard this prayer and forgave him. This lesson on prayer reminds us we are all sinners in need of forgiveness no matter how many wonderfu…
Luke 18: 9-14
I hope I always attempt to be like the tax collector. I hope I never find myself feeling so self-righteous that I don’t think I need God in my life. Jesus died for me and saved me from sin. And yet, I find I am weak and sin. I know that when I am weak God is merciful and forgives me my sins and never stops loving me. No amount of good works, community service, church attendance is sufficient enough to take away my sins. Jesus’ death is the only way I am cleansed of my sins and made acceptable to God the Father. So, like the tax collector, I ask for forgiveness and thank God every…
Luke 18: 9-14
This could be a parable for our time as well. Those outside the church today seem to see more of the behavior exhibited by the Pharisee than humble worshippers chastened by their sin. The arrogance they see is a turn off and badly harms Christian witness. When the unchurched see real evidence that the church is a hospital for sinners and not a museum of saints, they are more open to the gospel message.
Prayer - God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen
TAA