SCRIPTURE LESSON TEXT
By Brittenee Boykin
Lesson Text- Luke 18:9-14
Related Scriptures- Matthew 18:1-5; 23:1-12, Luke 16:14-17; Romans 3:10-30
Jesus used parables or stories using familiar aspects of everyday life to communicate heavenly principles. On this occasion he is speaking to the religious leaders. He tells a story that they can well relate to, two men go up to pray, a Pharisee and a publican or tax collector. The Pharisee stands and prays listing off a list of his best efforts. He after all according to himself is not like other men who are unjust, extortioners adulterers, unlike the publican.(Vs.11)
The Pharisee after all fasted and gave tithes. (Vs.12) The publican who was standing afar off would not even lift up his eyes to heaven. He beat his chest asking God to have mercy and acknowledging his sin to God. (Vs. 13) Jesus uses the end of the story to point out the heavenly truth that the publican was the one who left justified and not the Pharisee pointing out that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those that humble themselves will be exalted.
Our supporting scriptures Matthew 18:1-5 finds Jesus’ disciples grappling with the question of who will be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus uses this as a teachable moment to remind them that unless they become like little children they will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 23:1-12, we see Jesus warning the disciples to do as the Pharisees say not as they do because they were hypocrites echoing the previous text warning against self exaltation. Luke 16:14-17 is a poignant reminder that God knows our hearts and motives, and reminds us that what man exalts is an abomination to God. The final set of related scriptures from Romans 3:10-20 holds truths that we do good to remember, that we all fall short in our righteousness.
SYNOPSIS
By Raufu Spagnoletta
Luke 18, begins with two parables told by Jesus to illustrate the importance of prayer in the life of a believer. In the first parable, Jesus emphasizes persistent in prayer, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). The illustration used by Jesus is that of an emotionally impassive judge who finally ascended to the persistent request from a woman. In the second parable, Jesus points us to “prayer that honors God” by contrasting the attitude of two people who approached God in prayer (Luke 18:9-14).
Knowing his audience consisted of men who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others, Jesus said, “Two men went up to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican” (vs 10). The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself- and not to God. His prayer was comparative, “God, I thank thee I am not as other men…”(vs 11); He spoke only of his external works: “I fast twice in the week. I tithes of all that I possess” (vs. 12). The publican standing afar, feeling so unworthy, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto unto heaven but “in humility and repentance” beat his chest, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (vs. 13).
The Pharisee in self-righteous pride, expressed no need for God. Whereas the publican in humility, recognized that he was a sinner who needed the mercy of God.
In Luke 18:14, we read God’s response to the prayer of these two men: “I tell you, this man (publican) went to his home justified [forgiven of the guilt of sin and placed in right standing with God] rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself [forsaking self-righteous pride] will be exalted.” (AMP)
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
By Janice Hall
Pride leads to self deception and spiritual blindness. True humility helps us to see ourselves as we really are in God’s eyes and it inclines us to seek God’s help and mercy.
God dwells with the humble of heart who recognize their own sinfulness and who acknowledge God’s saving grace and mercy. Humility is a heart position before the Lord, and conveyed in how we conduct our daily lives. Humility, truly is living in such a way, refraining from disapproving attitudes in order to serve the Lord and to serve others.
This parable is about pride and humility, and also a parable of reflection. The Pharisee used his prayer to elevate himself as the righteous. The tax collector used his prayer to elevate himself as the sinner. Jesus is teaching us how we can be saved, how we can find mercy, even today, not by trusting our own righteousness but in the mercy of God.
God looks at the heart and sees the heart and the motives of the heart.
We pray for the heart posture of humility, that we take the position, that we are here for a greater purpose, than just our own gain. “ For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”( Isaiah 57: 15).
