1. The Parable of the Pharisee & The Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-14

2. The Purpose of the Parable

3. Luke 18:9
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

4. The Parable was directed
to certain problems.
Those that trusted in themselves that they were righteous.
The despising of others

5. The Parable Examined

6. Luke 18:10
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

7. Both men went to the temple to pray
Both men were followers of God, what separated the two was their attitudes.

8. The Pharisee’s Prayer
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.

9. The Pharisee’s Prayer
His prayer was full of selfishness, arrogance and bias.
Prayer that focuses on oneself, and how “good” they are, something is very wrong

10. The Pharisee’s Prayer
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men…
Luke 18:11a

11. The Pharisee’s Prayer
3. He begins by thanking God that he is not like other men.
4. The Pharisee begins to name others and even includes those who may not be in sin (tax collectors).

12. in the form of this Pharisee.
The braggard appears
in the form of this Pharisee.
“I…”
His “godliness” focuses on the physical not necessarily the spiritual.

13. in the form of this Pharisee.
The braggard appears
in the form of this Pharisee.
I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
Luke 18:12

14. in the form of this Pharisee.
The braggard appears
in the form of this Pharisee.
“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.
Leviticus 16:29

15. in the form of this Pharisee.
The braggard appears
in the form of this Pharisee.
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23:12

16. The Tax Collector’s Prayer
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!’
Luke 18:13

17. The Tax Collector’s Prayer
1. He stood afar off, and would not lift up so much as his eyes toward heaven. This shows humility.
2. “Be merciful” means “have mercy on me, be gracious”.

18. The Tax Collector’s Prayer
3. The idea is that the Pharisee looks on everyone else as sinners, but the publican looks only to himself as a sinner.

19. Only one went to their home justified
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.”
Luke 18:14

20. Only one went to their home justified
1. This verse contains the conclusion of what he thinks about these two men.
2. Jesus said, “this man,” meaning the tax collector, went down to his house justified
rather than the other man (the Pharisee).

21. Only one went to their home justified
3. Jesus then gave the reason for coming to this conclusion:
"For every one that exalts himself will be humbled.”
“And he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

22. Only one went to their home justified
And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Matthew 11:23

23. Lessons for Us Today

24. We need the proper attitude about ourselves & God.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12

25. We need the proper attitude about ourselves & God.
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
2 Corinthians 13:5

26. There is honor in & glory before God for the humble
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6

27. There is honor in & glory before God for the humble
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
James 4:10

28. Conclusion
1. Let us always pray for the right attitude not only before God but all men.
2. The wrong attitude can be a stepping stone to a final destination that we will wish we
avoided.