Today we begin a new series on rejecting religion for something real. The “something real” is the way of Christ (Christianity), which is not a religion, but a relationship with the living God.
Too many non-believers wrongly think of Christianity as “just another religion,” and, sadly, many of them have come to this conclusion because too many so called believers approach living the Christian life in a religious way. Our goal in this series is to explore the differences between the practice of religion and the practice of Christianity.
We begin with a consideration of Luke 18:9-14, where Jesus told a parable about two men, who followed two different approaches, which led to two different outcomes.
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1. Jesus describes two very different men - v. 10
A. One man was a Pharisee, while the other was a Tax Collector.
A Pharisee was a member of a party within Judaism that called on Jews of the time of Christ to follow strictly the Law as they interpreted it. The word “Pharisee” comes from the Hebrew word, “parush,” meaning “separated,” that is, one who is separated for a life of purity.
Pharisees were the pious ‘church-goers’ of their time who attended every Scripture study and diligently sought to obey every law of the faith. They were the best of the best of Jewish citizenry.
Today, people have grown accustomed to thinking negatively of the Pharisees. However, Pharisees were highly respected and looked up to in the Jewish community of Jesus’ day. They were the ‘deacons’ or ‘elders’ of the church so-to-speak.
A tax collector would have been perceived as the worst of the worst of Jewish citizenry, perhaps even lower. They were seen as extortionists and traitors - extortionists because they were notorious for collecting more taxes than were owned and pocketing the difference – and traitors because they served the occupiers of Israel, the Romans.
B. The Pharisee “belonged,” while the Tax Collector didn’t.
Both went to the temple to pray. No doubt, the Pharisee felt right at home. In fact, Jesus said of the Pharisees that they occupied “the most important seats in the synagogues.” He probably had his own pew.
The Tax Collector, on the other hand, was probably “out of his element.” He likely was not a regular at the temple. This was probably a ‘first” for him.
Yet we read in verse 14 that it was the Tax Collector who went home justified before God, as opposed to the Pharisee. The point here is that society’s estimation of a person is not the same as God’s.
“The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
There was a very wicked and rebellious man who decided it would be good for business if he joined a particular church. He was an adulterer, an alcoholic, and had never been a member of a church in his life. He went forward and presented himself for membership, testifying that there was no sin in his life and that he had grown up in church. They readily accepted him as a member.
He went home he told his wife what he had done and his wife, a very godly lady who was a faithful member of another church, exploded. She condemned him as a hypocrite and demanded he go back to the church and confess what he really was. Well, God used his wife to really break him, and he took it to heart.
The next Sunday he went back to the church, walked down to the front again, and this time confessed to the church all of his sins. He told them he was dishonest, an alcoholic, an adulterer, and that he was sorry. They revoked his membership on the spot.
He walked out of the church scratching his head and muttered to himself: “These church folks are really strange. I told a lie and they took me in; and when I told the truth they kicked me out!”
If you or I were to evaluate which of these men was right with God based only on the outward appearance, we would have been as confused as the congregation in that story.
2. Jesus describes two very difference approaches - vs. 11-13
Both of these men approached God, but they did so very differently.
A. One promoted himself while the other humbled himself.
The Pharisee prayed about himself. He bragged on what he did that was good - v. 12. He made a pretense of humbling himself before God, but in reality, Jesus says that “He prayed about himself,” or “to himself.”
This Pharisee was proud about his humility. He presented the idea that he felt God was lucky to have him approach Him.
But the Tax Collector truly humbled himself before God. He acknowledged his unworthiness and realized that he was blessed to be able to approach God.
You see, if we are going to connect to God, we must approach Him on His terms, not our own. We must acknowledge His worthiness and our unworthiness. We must admit that He is God and we are not!
B. One rationalized his sin while the other realized his sin.
By comparing himself to others who he thought were worse than he was, he was able to use rationalize away his sin.
Those that think it permissible to tell white lies soon grow colorblind.
That’s what had happened with this Pharisee, he had grown colorblind, deceiving himself that just because, in his estimation, his lies were “white” while another’s were black, that made him OK. After all, little up next to nothing, always looks like a lot.
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)
The Tax Collector, on the other hand, did not compare himself with others. Instead, his focus on himself before God. Knowing that his ultimate judge was God and not man, God’s judgment was all that concerned him.
By the way, in this, is illustrated one of the big differences between religion and the way of Christ (Christianity). Religion always promotes differences between people - we’re better then you - v. 9. Christianity always promotes what we have in common - we’re all sinners in need of a Savior.
Believers are simply beggars telling other beggars where they can find bread.
C. One expected reward while the other hoped for rescue.
The Pharisee thought that his good works merited God’s attention and reward. He mistakenly thought he could earn God’s attention and affection. He foolishly wanted to receive what he thought he deserved and what he thought he had earned, not realizing that what we all deserve and what we all have earned is judgment and condemnation.
The Tax Collector, on the other hand, cried out for mercy. Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. Because he was honest about his sin, he knew that even his best was tainted by his own selfishness and sinfulness, and he knew what he deserved. Therefore, instead of foolishly expecting reward like the Pharisee, he begged for mercy. He didn’t want to receive what he deserved!
God displayed His mercy through the cross. In the person of Christ, He came to rescue us from the penalty of sin by taking that penalty upon Himself.
“Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue.” - Galatians 1:4 (The Message)
D. One thought change without was the key to being right with God, while the other sought change within as the key to being right with God.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy - full of greed and
self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.” - Matthew 23:25-26 (NLT)
The heart of the matter is that being right with God is a matter of the heart. The way of religion, as exemplified by the Pharisee, focuses on self promotion, rationalization, good works, and how things look on the outside. The way of Christ, on the other hand, focuses on humbling oneself before God, confessing sin, accepting the sacrifice made by Christ on your behalf at Calvary, and trusting God to bring change about on the inside in your heart.
(Show video - “After The Heart”)
3. Jesus describes two very different outcomes - v. 14
If you are going to know real life, then you must enter into a personal relationship with the living God, the source of all life. To do that, you must deal with the reality of your sin, which is the barrier between you and a holy God. The good news is that He has already provided for your rescue through Christ. Humble yourself before God, confess your sin, accept the sacrifice made by Christ on your behalf at Calvary, and trust God to bring change about on the inside in your heart.
