Two Sinners   Luke 18:9-17

This post seeks to emphasize lessons from a parable about two sinners and the humbleness of children.

‘Two Sinners’ concerns praying by a Pharisee and a publican. The lesson applies mainly to the Pharisee, Luke 18:10, “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray…a Pharisee and a tax collector. Pharisees were considered highly religious. Publicans were considered gross sinners. Jesus knew the thoughts of each.

Jesus puts forth another single-point parable: Some men trust in themselves as righteous and feel superior to others. The Pharisee expressed his feelings as a righteous person. In contrast, the tax collector viewed himself as a sinner in need of God’s mercy. This parable focuses on the attitude of each man.

The Pharisee did not pray for forgiveness. He simply bragged about himself as if God didn’t know. He did not acknowledge his sins. Instead, this Pharisee showed that he thought how he lived justified his assignment of righteousness. In other words, he felt he had earned salvation. Therefore, he would not need to ask for the grace of God.

The tax collector felt that he was a sinner and needed mercy and grace for salvation.

Jesus makes it plain that of these two, only the tax collector was justified.

How we see ourselves and our sins remains all-important to God. Sin resides in the life of each of us. We need God’s mercy concerning our sins for salvation.

The disciples may have felt superior to children because they prohibited parents from bringing children to be blessed by Jesus. He told them to not hinder the children from coming to Him and then taught an important lesson: One cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he has the attitude of a child. Thus, to come to Jesus, we must depend on him and have faith that He will provide forgiveness and a home in heaven.

So, what did we learn?

1.We need to show humility and recognize our status as a sinner.

2.To enter Christ’s kingdom, we must show faith and trust in Jesus like a child.

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#trustSelfRighteousness #treatOthersContempt #beLikeChild