Introduction

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:

10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Why did they go to the Temple?

11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself:

‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people:

swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week;

I pay tithes of all that I get.’

13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

What did the Temple look like?

Courtyard of the Gentiles

Courtyard of the Jewish (Pharisee & tax collector)

Courtyard of the Priests

Holy Place for the daily presiding Priest

Holy of Holies for the yearly High Priest

The Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies

Yom Kippur

Where did the Priests accomplish God’s required transaction?

Hilaskomai – satisfaction of God’s justice

Romans 3:25, …whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness,

I John 4:10, In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other;

Dikaios – pronounced justified and righteous

What was the result of all of it?

Robed in righteousness

Isaiah 61:10, I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,

My soul will exult in my God;

For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,

He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

So What?!

#1. Humility not arrogance.

#2. Hope not cynicism.

#3. Compassion not anger.

Jesus the Philosopher: Answers for Life

Luke 18:9-14, July 21 & 24, 2022

Prayer Requests:

Group Discussion: When you really want to spend time with God and pray do you have a certain place you go where you feel very connected to Him?

Read out loud: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus is teaching attitude is everything like…

#1. Humility not pride.

In Luke 1:52 Mary said of God, “And (He) has exalted those who were humble.

How would describe or define humility? Is there someone in your life you think is a very humble person? Why?

The dictionary defines pride as, “inordinate self-esteem,” and also as, “reasonable and justifiable self-respect!!!” How do you determine whether you’re being reasonable or inordinate when thinking of your own pride???

#2. Hope not cynicism.

Read Romans 5:1-6. Where and how is the word hope used in this passage? Is hope a guaranteed commodity because of Jesus or a pie in the sky optimistic thought? Why? Paul says we “exult” in 2 things in vs. 2 & 3. Why does it mean to exult in God’s glory and also in tribulation at the same time?

In Luke 18:13 the tax gatherer’s only hope was the mercy of God. The Pharisee felt he didn’t need the mercy of God. How do we keep from devaluing the mercy of God like the Pharisee devalued it? If we’re not a treasonous tax collector why should the mercy of God be valuable to us?

Do you value mercy in your family???

A cynic is someone who believes everyone’s motivation is self-centered. “I’m only out for me.” Or, “It’s a dog eat dog world.” Do you feel hopeful or cynical about our world?

#3. Compassion not judgment.

When you think of compassion do you think of letting people totally off the hook for their sinful behavior or do you think of helping them through the consequences of their sinful behavior? How do you keep a compassionate attitude in contrast to a “they’re getting what they deserve attitude?” Are those two exclusive or can you have both?

Family time: Read Luke 18:9-14 to your kids and ask them who they have given mercy to in the last week or who they could show mercy to next week. Also, ask how your family is doing in terms of mercy, do we need more mercy in our family?