Question on strict Pharisee and sinful tax collector

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lastsecman

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Nov 8, 2006
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Luke 18:9-14 (New International Version)The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector 9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."-------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Bamp;#39;midbar

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Peace, it is a good thing, no? Trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding. God is your Father, and there are no tricks. He isn’t playing “gotcha”. Acknowledge him in everything you do. You owe everything to him. Don’t worry, it isn’t scary to owe him everything. He is trustworthy and loves you. See Proverbs 3:5. The taxpayer knew that all that he had was from God. He asked for mercy and received it.About your comment on stopping trying, I’m not sure where you are going with that one. We must run the race before us. We must put on the whole armor of God. That makes no sense if we are just going to sit on our duffs in our room and close the door. That does not mean it is all on you, though! Don’t misunderstand me there. Just do each day what is yours to do. Perhaps pray the prayer of the taxpayer yourself. :pray4: Prayer will help what bothers you.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross...

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
 

HammerStone

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Jesus explained the message of his parable right there for you. I saying this as a loving brother, but don't make more of what is said than Jesus would have you make of it: Luke 18:14I 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. The message of this passage - among my favorites in the Bible - is that we are to be humble before God. Proverbs 22:4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
 

lastsecman

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Nov 8, 2006
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Thankyou guys for the comforting words
smile.gif
 

writer4hisglory

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Not sure if you are still reading this, Lastsecman - but if you are, here is my two-cents worth. The parable was about how true humility, as found within the much loathed tax collector, is what God honors, and not the religious leader's outward righteousness, but his unwillingness to be holy from the heart. This has nothing to do with salvation, but rather it has to do with what pleases God and what does not. God is very clear within His word that it is belief in Jesus as the Son of God, who lived a perfect life free of sin, and died on the cross for our sins and rose again that saves us from our sins, not by being good enough. This can be found in:Ephesians 2:8-9John 3:16-18Acts 16:32And numerous other passages. If there are any further questions, or if you need this clarified further, please let me or someone here know.
 

brotherbernard

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This has always been a favorite text of mine simply because its like a catch-22. Think about it, if you identify with the religious and spiritually righteous individual, well, you come up salvation short. If however, you identify with the sinner, then you are salvation bound. The righteous one, in this passage, is the sinner, and the sinner is accepted as righteous. But, some would point out, the pharisee is just that, a pharisee and as such is a self-righteous, spiritually proud individual who trusts in his own works of righteousness, etc. etc. etc. Nay, Nay, I say. Allow me to gently point out that the pharisee doesn't trust in his own righteousness, but actually thanks God for his righteous standing. So, he gives God the credit for his righteousness and in a sense is saying in his prayer that without God's help (or grace?) he would be just like the sinner he was looking down upon. That comes kind of close to home doesn't it? Catch-22!Christ plus nothing,Brother Bernard