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Saturday, October 24, 2009

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's: The Pharisee And The Publican

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's
Parable: The Pharisee And The Publican.

Luke 18:10-14 KJV
9 And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18:9-14 NLT
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!
12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’
14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

This is the story of two men who went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican.

Pharisee: Greek-Pharisaios (far-is-ah-yos): Exclusively religious, Jewish secretary.
(Abingdon/Strong)

They were not only keepers of the law, but keepers of the oral traditions of the law, which were numerous.
The were men of spiritual show full of self piety. Their righteousness, was based on keeping the “jot and tittle of the law.”

The Pharisee, boasted..
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Christ referred to Pharisee's as a brood of snakes...
Matthew 3:7 KJV
But when He saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to His baptism, He said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

And again..
Matthew 15:8,9 KJV
8 This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.
9 But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 6:1-5 KJV
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Read of the “Pride,” of Satan.
Satan

Pride:
Proverbs 16:18 KJV
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

I John 2:16,17 KJV
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The Self-Righteous:
Proverbs 12:15 KJV
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 30:12 KJV
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

II Corinthians 10:12 NLT
Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

Job 9:20 KJV
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

I John 1:8 KJV
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.


Publican: Greek-Telones (tel-o-nace): A tax-farmer/ a collector of public revenue.
(Abingdon/Strong)

A tax collector, of Roman revenue, of whom many were dishonest.
Overcharging, with fraudulent claims, a tax collector considered the lowest of all trades.

Deuteronomy 25:13-16 NLT
13 “You must use accurate scales when you weigh out merchandise,
14 and you must use full and honest measures.
15 Yes, always use honest weights and measures, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
16 All who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the Lord your God.

Proverbs 21:6 NLT
Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.

The Publican of Luke 18, came to the temple in humility, and confession.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I (Jesus) tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Humility:
Proverbs 22:4 KJV
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Isaiah 57:15 KJV
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.

Matthew 18:4 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

James 4:10 KJV
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
28 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Conclusion:

Both the Pharisee, and the Publican went up to the temple to pray.

The Pharisee tried his best to “convince,” God, of how great he was, and what he accomplished was nothing.

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5 KJV
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done..."

Hebrews 10:6 KJV
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

The prayer of the publican was heard.
He...
Bowed his head, as being unworthy to even raise it, to speak to God.
Begged Almighty God for His mercy,
Proclaimed himself a sinner.

Luke 18:14 KJV
I (Jesus) tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Philippians 2:5-11 KJV
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.