SUNDAY, 3 MARCH 2024
TEXT:
Luke 18:9-17
9.
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were
righteous, and despised others:
10.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11.
The Pharisee stood and prayed this with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am
not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax
collector.
12.
I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
13.
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!’
14.
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.”
15.
Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the
disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16.
But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and
do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
17.
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will by no means enter it.”
(New King James Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
GOD CONDEMNS SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
Today’s
parable is meant to draw our attention to the fact that God condemns
self-righteousness as exemplified by the Pharisees.
The
modern day Pharisee wants to be seen as righteous by obeying certain laws and
church traditions but ignores the more important matters of the heart.
Throughput
His ministry, Jesus condemned what he saw as a central tendency of the
Pharisees to prioritize the wrong things.
The
Pharisees paraded his religious credentials, boasted that he was better than
the tax collector or other people such as robbers, evildoers and adulterers.
He
also painted the picture of his righteousness in terms of fasting, twice a
week, being consistent in tithing, etc.
But
the tax collector admitted his sin and pleaded for mercy. Jesus reckoned him to
be righteous because he humbled himself in keeping with Romans 1:17
QUESTION:
When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you identify with the tax collector
or the Pharisee?
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I plead for mercy. I repent of my sins of self-righteousness, in
Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
No comments:
Post a Comment