Pride Vs Humility

    

Luke 18: 9-14

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up 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, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Two men, two opposite prayers.  The Pharisee's prayer is filled with self, filled with "I's:". we know people like this:  it's all about them. They do not see beyond themselves, and if so, it's only to put down "lesser" people. The tax, collector, on the other hand,knows his place, knows his need for mercy and his prayer is centered on God rather than on himself.  He goes home "justified", while the Pharisee did not. Jesus calls us to this level of humility, this view of our stance before him as people, sinners, needing his mercy.  "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

Bro. Rene