Read Luke 18:9-14 Lets take a look at the topic of humility. My hope is to help you understand why humility is a vital part of a believer’s life by showing you examples from scripture. Today we are going to begin taking a look at a Parable that Jesus gave of humility before God. Today I want us to look at the differences between the two men in the parable. Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. In this parable Jesus identifies two men, one a Pharisee and one a tax collector. As far as two people these two could not have been more opposite in their lifestyles or their acceptance by others. Pharisees were revered as the religious (holy) men that proclaimed the law and lived according to it. The tax collector was actually a Jewish man who was hired by the Roman government to collect taxes from his own people. Often tax collectors would add money to the tax and then pocket the extra. The people hated these men. Interestingly these two men went to the temple to pray. Notice very carefully the way these two men pray. Again completely opposite, notice the arrogance in the way the Pharisee prays and notice the humility in the way that tax collector prays. Why do you suppose that is? I believe the Pharisee really believed that he could just stand and arrogantly pray to God because he obeyed the law. His view of God was messed up. However the tax collector would not even raise his head toward heaven and even beat his chest. Why because the tax collector had a proper view of the majesty and power of God and he reverently feared Him. He also understood the fact that he is a sinner and that only by God’s grace and mercy could he approach God. The Pharisee forgot about that fact and thought he could approach God based on what he had done. How do you see God? How do you see yourself? Father help us to catch a glimpse of who you really are, so that we can see who we really are.
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