Jesus Compares The Praying Of Two Men
Lk. 18:9-14
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." NKJV
Introduction
Look at verse nine for it tells us to whom this parable is directed. Do any of us classify to be like these listening to this parable? Do we classify to be like one of the two men in this parable? Let’s take a more detailed look.
1. Jesus Spoke About A Man’s . . Haughty Prayer. 18:10-12
Introduction: Pharisees Defined According to the New
Testament, the Pharisees were concerned about strictly interpreting and keeping the law on all matters (Acts 26:5), including the Sabbath (Mark 2:24), divorce (Mark 10:2), oaths (Matt 23:16-22), the wearing of PHYLACTERIES and FRINGES (Matt 23:5), and so on. But they showed special zeal in insisting that laws of tithing and ritual purity be kept (Matt 23:23-26; Mark 7:1-13; Luke 11:37-42; 18:12).
Since Pharisees found that other Jews were not careful enough about keeping the laws of tithing and ritual purity, they felt it was necessary to place limits on their contacts with other Jews as well as with Gentiles. For example, they could not eat in the home of a non-Pharisee, since they could not be sure that the food had been properly tithed and kept ritually pure.
Unlike the SADDUCEES, the Pharisees did believe in the resurrection of the dead. On this point, they were on common ground with the early Christians (Acts 23:6-9). The scribe in Mark 12:28 who thought that Jesus had answered the Sadducees well concerning the resurrection was probably a Pharisee. (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
SADDUCEES, called by that name because they don’t believe in resurrection.
They Are Sad U See
PHARISEES
The Pharisees, according to the Talmud, were of seven kinds:
(1) the Shechemite Pharisee, who simply kept the law for what he could profit thereby, as Shechem submitted to circumcision to obtain Dinah (Gen 34:19);
(2) the Humbling Pharisee, who to appear humble always hung down his head;
(3) the Bleeding Pharisee, who in order not to see a woman walked with his eyes closed, and thus often met with wounds;
(4) the Mortar Pharisee, who wore a mortar-shaped cap to cover his eyes that he might not see any impurities or indecencies;
(5) the What-am-I-yet-to-do Pharisee, who, not knowing much about the law, as soon as he had done one thing, asked, " What is my duty now? and I will do it" (cf. Mark 10:17-22);
(6) the Pharisee from Fear, who kept the law because he was afraid of future judgment;
(7) the Pharisee from Love, who obeyed the Lord because he loved Him with all his heart ( New Unger's Bible Dictionary.)
Joke Lord Why Did You Make Her So Beautiful.
A. A Haughty Prayer Is . . Self Satisfied. 18:10-11a
10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, . . .”
B. A Haughty Prayer Is . . Self Centered. 18:10-11b
“'God, I thank You that I am not like other men . . .”
Eight Things the Pharisee Demonstrated In His Prayer.
1. I do not pray with sinners. 2. I am not like other people.
3. I am not an extortioner. 4. I am not unjust.
5. I am not an adulterer.
6. I am not like this publican (Luke 18:11).
7. I fast twice a week. 8. I pay my tithes (Luke 18:12).
The Pharisee did not utter one word about his sins, but many words about his religious self righteousness. All this and he was not justified (Luke 18:14).
C. A Haughty Prayer Is . . Self Sufficient. 18:11c -12
“. . . extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax
collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'”
Jewish Fasts (Luke 18:12)
Jewish Fasts (Luke 18:12) On Monday and on Thursday The law commanded only one fast a year (Lev 23:27-32). About 1,200 years later, in Zechariah's time, Jews had 4 fasts (Zech 8:19). In Christ's day, 500 years later, Jews had 104 fasts a year (Luke 18:12). Thus they were growing in law but not in grace.
Nursery Rhyme: Little Jack Horner sat in the corner eating His Christmas Pie, put in his thumb and pulled out a plumb saying what a good boy am I.
The Pharisees used prayer as a means of getting public recognition and not as a spiritual exercise to glorify God. (Matt 6:5; 23:14).
A Haughty Prayer Has a Haughty Posture:
THE PROPER POSTURE For PRAYER
"The proper way for a man to pray," Said Deacon Lemuel Keys,
"And the only proper attitude Is down upon his knees."
"No, I should say the way to pray," Said Reverend Doctor Wise,
"Is standing straight with outstretched arms And rapt and upturned eyes."
"Oh, no, no, no, said Elder Slow, "Such posture is too proud,
A man should pray with eyes fast-closed And head completely bowed."
"It seems to me his hands should be Austerely clasped in front,
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground," Said Reverend Doctor Blunt.
"Well said Cyrus Brown, Last year I fell in Hidgekin's well Headfirst,"
With both my heels a-stickin' up And my head a-pointin' down.
"And I made a prayer right then and there, The best prayer I ever said, The prayingest prayer I ever prayed, A-standin' on my head!"
Application
Jesus Spoke About A Man’s . . Haughty Prayer.
2. Jesus Spoke About A Man’s . . Humble Prayer. 18:13-14
13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." NKJV
A. A Humble Prayer Confesses . . Personal Sin. 18:13
13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
1. He Beat His Breast. Geek indicate repeated action.
2. He Pleads For Mercy.
a. 41 times the Bible says,
“. . . His Mercy Endures Forever.”
b. Psa. 136 it appears 26 times once in every verse!
c. Ps. 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. NKJV
3. 7 words Compared to 34 by the Pharisee.
a. The Greek Word “sinner” Is In The Emphatic Position. “The Sinner”
b. The sense of sin and faith cause salvation.
4. Look At The Contrast.
a. The Pharisee talked to himself and about himself.
b. The publican prayed to God and was Heard.
c. The Pharisee could see the sins of others but not his own sins.
d. The Pharisee was boasting; the publican was praying.
e. The Pharisee went home a worse man, but the publican went home forgiven.
B. A Humble Prayer Confesses . . Produces Results. 18:14
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." NKJV
1. Justified: It is a legal term that means all the evidence has been destroyed, and there is no record that we have ever sinned.
2. We Are Justified By Faith Not By Works. Rom 5:1
3. This man did not resort to the Priest of The Temple
but the God of the Temple.
4. He received:
A complete change.
A sudden Change, and
A Happy Change.
Illustration
In Mtn. View a Deacon’s daughter killed her abusing husband.
The judge pronounced the crime Justifiable Homicide.
Illustration
When I was in College I went by to talk to one of my professors. He asked me what I planed to become. I told him a minister. We talked theology and he said I can’t agree with your belief in an Instantaneous Salvation. I had never heard the term so I asked what he meant. He said you believe a sinner can be instantaneously changed. I said Yes Sir.
He said, Nothing changes instantaneously. A few weeks later President LBJ. said “I will not Seek nor will I accept my parties nomination for President.” The professor came into class through his book on the table and said, “well I guess you know the political scene changed in an instant last night. I stayed after class and talked with him.
Conclusion
God can change you in an instant. Just like the Publican come and plead for mercy.