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The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Coggle Diagram
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
What is one of the most embarrassing things that has happened to you? (Baked Beans)
In what ways are students like you tempted to be prideful?
(Obeying parents, academics, social class, talents, etc)
How can we be tempted to become prideful in a religious way?
Today's parable can be helpful in dealing with our pride and our Christian walk.
1) Some of you might be trying to approach God strictly through your religious actions. For you I hope this parable humbles you and shows you that you can't walk away right in God's eyes by trusting in yourself.
2) Others of you might be tempted to look on your walk with Christ and feel pretty good about yourself as opposed to giving God the glory and recognizing his grace at work in your life. If that's the case, this parable will hopefully humble you and me.
Read Luke 18:9-14
Today's parable introduces us to two characters; a Pharisee and a tax collector.
What do you know about these two types of men?
The Pharisee's Prayer
What do you like or dislike about his prayer?
Standing by himself
Association
V11
Title = Separated Ones
Interestingly, does any other name come to mind that shares a similar meaning? (Saints = set apart ones). How should we live in a way that stays true to that meaning, but does not err like the Pharisee?
John 17:14-19
Horizontal Comparison vs. Vertical Comparison
Explain the difference
Explain the pitfalls and danger of horizontal comparison
This is causing him to forget to apply
Isaiah 64:16
and
Romans 3:10-12
The fruit of this is pride: there's always someone who is worse
His pride blinds him to reality
a. He may not have committed the physical act of
adultery
, but he certainly was guilty of having
lusted after a woman
which Jesus says is the same as adultery.
b. He may not have
robbed
anyone physically, but again, according to the heart of the law, he has almost assuredly robbed the people around him of the
respect they deserve
since he views himself above all others.
c. Finally, he may not see himself as an evildoer, but the whole point of this parable is that
in God's eyes, that is exactly who he is
, and it is his pride that is keeping him from seeing it.
Me Centered
The prayer is directed at God, but the rest is all about how great he is.
Notice the basic elements of prayer are missing: Adoration, Confession, Supplication. He thanks God, but only for making him so amazing.
If his prayer life is all about him, who do you think he lives his life for?
We need to examine ourselves carefully in light of this finding. Does your prayer life and the way you live your life focus around you? Are you the main character in your life story, and everything in your life revolves around you, or is God the main character that your life revolves around?
Connection
How does this Pharisee resemble the eldest brother in the parable of the prodigal son?
Pride/Blindness
"I never disobeyed" as he refuses to go into the Father's party.
The Tax Collector's Prayer
What do you like or dislike about his prayer?
Unlike the Pharisee, he calls out for mercy
From having his prayer heard, to one day standing in his presence, he knows this will require God's mercy
He refuses to lift up his eyes to God
How should a person approach a king?
He knows that God has every right to strike him dead for even uttering God's name on his lips.
He stood a far way off
How is his position different from the Pharisee who stood alone?
Horizontal vs. Vertical Comparison
Who is he comparing himself to?
(God's Holiness)
We know this b/c look at how he labels himself. What does he call himself?
(A sinner -- one who has missed the mark)
Illustration: Kids Baking Competition vs. Adult Baking Competition
This is why when you see people encounter God in the OT or NT the fall down in fear.
The ending
Which of the two men left justified in the sight of God?
This parable took aim at the audience (v9) and hit the bulls-eye
This parable not only flew in the face of the religious elite, it flies in the face, even today, or the religious.
Salvation through religious acts is quite the heavy burden.
a. James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
b. Matthew 5:48 - You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
If we can't be saved by our works, what hope do we have? (Abraham's faith in the promise of provision made him righteous
Gen 15:1-6
Our Response
We need to find ourselves more like the tax collector than the Pharisee. We all were in need of mercy, and we are still in need of Mercy.
Read verse 14
Jesus was humbled so that we might be exalted