Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

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 thus 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.”
 
Introduction 
“Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”  James 4:10
 
I. Two Men - a Pharisee and a Tax Collector.  Similar and different.

II. Similarities - they both:
 
A. Had careers
 
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
 
B. Prayed

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

C. Evaluated themselves

11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men
 
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!’
 
D. Trusted something
 
9  Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous
 
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!’
 
III. Differences  v14
 
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.”
 
“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23
 
“There is none righteous, no not one.”  Romans 3:10
 
IV. Factors in Justification
 
A. To Remain Unjustified
 
1. Trust Yourself  v9
 
9  Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
 
2. Despise Others  v9, 11
 
9  Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
 
11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus 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.’
 
3. Pray with Yourself  v11

11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself
 
4. False Gratitude  v11

11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men
 
5. Pride  v11
 
11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus 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.’
 
B. To Be Justified
 
1. Trust God

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!’

2. Love Others
 
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
 
3. Pray to God
 
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!’
 
4. True Gratitude
 
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!’
 
5. Humility
 
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!’
 
VI. Understanding the Main Issue 
 
Is Jesus saying we should not do good?  v11-12
 
11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus 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.’
 
Is Jesus saying we should not genuinely thank God for how far we’ve come?
 
11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus 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.’
 
Is Jesus saying we should live doing the wrong thing, have to stand afar off when we pray, feel so guilty that we can’t raise our eyes to Heaven, beat our breasts every time?

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!’
 
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others
 
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!’
 
Psalm 51:17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. 
 
VIII. If Jesus Can Humble Himself, So Can We  Philippians 2:1-11
 
2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
 
2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
 
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
 
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
 
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
 
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
 
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
 
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
 
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
 
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
 
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 
“Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”  James 
 
4:10

 Conclusion