(Luke 18:9-14) "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican."
Through the New Testament Jesus taught in parables.
A parable is a story that teaches a truth or moral.
And, one of His methods of teaching a parable was to use contrasts.
When we have a missionary show slides or a picture presentation we turn off the lights.
Do we turn off the lights because we don’t want to see, or because we want to see more clearly?
> By contrasting the darkness with the light of the projector we see the pictures more clearly.
> By making the room darker, we more clearly reveal the pictures.
Jesus did the same thing with parables...
> He contrasted one personality with another to reveal more clearly the truth of the story.
> By showing great contrast in His stories, He made the moral of the story much more stronger and more clear.
Look at the first part of this chapter (v. 1-8).
First He takes a person with the very least ability to help herself.
> It wasn’t like today. Widows did not have a welfare program.
> There was no free legal aid.
> If you were a widow, you were left to the mercy of friends and family.
> And, if you had neither family or friends; you were helpless indeed.
But, then He shows us that the man she is asking help of, is a person that would never help someone for charity...
> He regarded neither God or man.
> He was the most uncharitable person in the region.
> He had no intention of helping anyone, more less a widow.
The most helpless person needs help from the person most likely NOT to help her.
> A person with the least ability to pay...
> Is requesting help of the person least likely to do anything for anybody.
Yet, this widow who has NOTHING to offer...
> Gets help from the judge who never helps anyone fro free.
> WHY? Because she keeps bugging him...
(v. 1) We are told explicitly what the parable is meant to teach.
> The parable is to teach the men ought always to pray and not to faint (or quit).
> So He contrasts the person least likely to get help with the person least likely to help her...
> So that we can see that if she can get help from the unjust judge, we should be able to get help from God.
> If the widow could persevere with a wicked judge and get help...
> Then we can call on God, who WANTS to help us (v. 6-8).
In our text, this morning, we see another contrast...
And once again we are told explicitly what the parable is meant to teach (v. 9).
> The parable is meant to help those who think they are saved, but are not!
> It is addressing those who think they are righteous, but they are not!
It is a contrast between a self-righteous sinner, and a wicked unrighteous sinner.
> But, the point is: Some think they are going to heaven by their good works, look down on others...
The Pharisee and the Publican
I. The Pharisee.
A. The Highest Religious Person among the Jews.
1. Paul’s assessment of a Pharisee (Acts 26:4-5).
> Paul calls a Pharisee "the most straightest sect of their religion."
2. As far as the Jews were concerned, there was none greater spiritually than a Pharisee.
> They lived exemplary lives!
> They memorized whole portions of Scripture.
> They were the scribes who copied the Old Testament by hand; word for word!
3. When a Pharisee passed by, every Jew would stand aside and bow their heads.
> They were like the Pope, or Arch-Bishops.
B. They were like Elijah or Elisha.
1. They were revered and honored.
> They were highly esteemed.
> They were considered among the men of God.
2. Like we might see Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, or John R. Rice...
> They were great men of God in the eyes of the Jews.
C. Jesus said, two men went into the Temple to pray...
1. But, when He said, "The one a Pharisee..."
> It automatically painted a picture in the minds of His hearers...
> They saw a religious leader among a religious people.
> They saw a man worthy of honor and reverence.
2. When Jesus said, "The one a Pharisee..."
> They just assumed He would say great and honorable things about the man of God.
> They just assumed the parable was meant to honor and promote the Pharisee.
3. When Jesus said, "The one a Pharisee..."
> They were looking for a man of character and virtue.
> They were expecting the story would show the greatness of the Pharisaical Jews.
> They were expecting Jesus to show reverence to the Pharisee.
4. When Jesus said, "The one a Pharisee..."
> They realized that He had spoken of the cream of the crop.
> He was talking about the best of the best.
> The Pharisee was the most religious person, among the most religious people on earth.
II. The Publican.
A. The Lowest Form of Life Among the Jews.
1. The scum of the earth.
> The most hated people among them.
> As far as the Jews were concerned, there was no worse person walking God’s earth than a Publican.
2. They were Tax Collectors, which was bad enough...
> But, they were given liberty to exact a bit extra taxes for themselves.
> The Roman government allowed them to add a percentage to the required tax, to pay fro their service of collecting the tax.
3. And, they used this liberty to their greatest advantage.
> They would often charge 30 or 40% above the required tax.
> They were getting rich off of this loophole in the tax law.
B. But, it Didn’t End There...
1. They would take property or possessions away from those who could not pay.
> By this they acquired land, wealth and great possessions.
> They robbed the people...
2. And, when they had neither money, land or possessions to pay...
> They would take their wives and their daughters to be their concubines.
3. The Law of First Night.
> Roman’s spoke Latin: "JUS PRIMAE NOCTIS"
> "JUS" means "LAW"; "PRIMAE NOCTIS" means "of THE FIRST NIGHT".
> The right of a regional Lord to take the virginity of a woman on the first night of her marriage.
> To show the new husband who was really the Lord of the land.
4. It was a practice known among many different nations.
> "droit du seigneur" - French for "the right of the lord";
> Understood as the right to take the virginity of any woman living in his domain, and specifically to deflower virgin brides.
5. The Germans called it, among other things, "Das Recht der ersten Nacht".
> The "Right of the first night";
> And "Das Herrenrecht" "The Master’s right".
6. In Spain it was known as "Derecho de pernada".
> "The right to the legs..."
7. Almost every language seems to have had a phrase to describe it.
> This practice is referred to as early as 3000 B.C.
> Mozart mentions it in his opera "Le Nozze de Figaro," based on the original play "The Marriage of Figaro."
> It is also the practice which the movie Braveheart was based on.
C. The point is that some Publican’s took their office way too far.
1. Some of them used their power to take women from their husbands or fathers.
> The Publicans became odious in the sight of the Jews.
> They were a constant reminder that they were under Roman law, and under Roman oppression.
2. But, what made it far more despicable, is that by and large, they were Jews themselves.
> The Publicans were Jews who were working for the Romans.
> And, who used their Roman office to grossly oppress their Jewish brethren.
3. They were Traitors.
> They were Benedict Arnold’s and Judas Iscariot’s.
They were worse in their oppression than the persecuting Romans!
> But, they were Jews themselves!
> And so they were HATED...
When Jesus mentioned the Pharisee a picture was drawn in the mind of His hearers...
But, when He mentioned the Publican, a far more drastic picture was drawn in their minds.
WHAT A TREMENDOUS CONTRAST THE LORD PAINTS IN THESE TWO!
III. Their Choice.
A. We Must Now Consider How These Men Came to Be as They Were.
1. The Pharisee didn’t become a Religious leader over-night.
> He trained for many years to become a Rabbi;
> Then for many more years just to become eligible to be a Pharisee.
2. After years of service and training it was still possible that you would not be elected to the office of a Pharisee.
> If you were it was because other Pharisees saw character and leadership in you.
> If you became a Pharisee it was because you had given your entire life to becoming eligible.
3. This man who entered the Temple had spent his life for the privilege to be a Pharisee.
> He had lived a life of purity and sacrifice...
> He would have been disqualified if there were any known sin...
B. The Publican Also Chose His Own Life.
1. We cannot fault the Pharisee for the life of the Publican.
> You didn’t become a Publican overnight either.
> This Publican chose his life-style many years ago.
2. He decided to select a course of life that would lead him to become an extortioner...
> A life that would put him in circles of deceit and vice.
> He chose a lifestyle that would bring the vile hatred of his own people.
3. It was not done in ignorance.
> You don’t become a Publican by accident.
> You follow a life like that BY CHOICE!
C. Here Are These Two Men Entering the Temple to Pray!
1. One has lived a life of purity and worship.
> He has chosen to become a preacher.
> He has lived an exemplary life that has earned him the veneration of his peers.
2. The other has chosen a life of selfishness, vice, immorality, and extortion.
> He has become a despicable, hated, traitor to his nation.
3. But, they are both entering the Temple to pray!
> They are both seeking God in their own way!
> The one has come to brag about his station as a Pharisee.
> The other has come to abase himself before God.
> The one is very please with himself.
> The other despises himself.
> The one is happy about his accomplishments.
> The other is ashamed of the things he has done.
4. What a contrast our Lord has drawn?
> The Pharisee has come to tell God how good he is.
> The Publican has come to beg God for mercy because of how wicked he is.
> The one has come to lift up his head before God.
> The other is too ashamed to even lift his head.
> The one has come to lift his chest and boast of his good works.
> The other has come to beat his chest and cry about his wicked works.
> One has come fully into the Temple to pray!
> The other stood afar off!
IV. Their Prayers.
A. The Pharisee’s Prayer (v. 11-12).
1. He prayed thus with HIMSELF.
> For all of his religious training, he didn’t even believe in God.
> He was a LOST religious leader.
2. The world is full of lost preachers, priests, and rabbi’s.
> Mormon elders, JW leaders, Catholic priests, Baptist preachers, etc.
> Men (and women) who preach and teach the Bible, but are as lost as the vilest heathen.
3. The Pharisee had chosen a life of Biblical study and teaching.
> But, when he prayed he didn’t even believe that God was hearing him.
B. The Pharisee’s Boasting.
1. He "Thanks God", whom he doesn’t believe is actually hearing his prayer...
> But, he is really just making it known how religious he is.
2. He lists the very things that the Publican’s were despised for...
> Extortion- Cheating on taxes.
> Unjust - A Traitor
> Adulterers - Immorality.
3. Then he lists the things that Pharisees are revered for...
> Fasting, Tithing, and by implication, Praying.
C. The Publican’s Repentance (v.13).
1. His posture.
> He stood afar off.
> Not worthy to be in God’s house.
> He would not lift his eyes.
> He was ashamed of his sins.
> Smote his breast.
> Despised himself.
2. His pondering.
> While the Pharisee noticed the Publican and made mention of him...
> The Publican said nothing about the Pharisee.
> He was not there to judge the Pharisee, he was there to condemn himself.
> He was not thinking about the difference between he and the Pharisee...
> He was thinking about the difference between he and God!
> He wasn’t thinking about the Pharisee, he was thinking about God!
> He did believe in God!
3. His prayer (v. 13).
> He admits his condition - a sinner!
> He recognizes his need - mercy!
> He knew where he could find forgiveness - God!
V. The Outcome.
A. The Pharisee Left the Same Way He Came.
1. He arrived at the Temple as a lost religious leader...
> When he left the Temple, he was still a lost religious leader.
2. He came to the Temple to boast and brag about himself...
> He left the Temple full of himself.
3. He came to the Temple on his way to a burning hell...
> He left the Temple still on his way to a burning hell.
B. The Publican Left MUCH DIFFERENT Than He Came.
1. He came to the Temple a lost, wretched, hell bound sinner...
> He left the Temple a saved, sanctified, born-again child of God.
2. He came to the Temple beating his chest and begging for mercy...
> He left the Temple with goodness and mercy following him all the days of his life.
3. He came to the Temple unable to forgive himself...
> He left the Temple with the forgiveness of God.
4. He came to the Temple head bowed, and beating his chest...
> He left the Temple head high and shouting for joy.
C. The Moral of the Story.
1. Jesus used a broad contrast to show this truth.
> He wanted us to be clear on what was being taught.
> The contrast was made to show that you could be anywhere in between the Pharisee and the Publican...
> If they made these choices, then you and I fall somewhere more or less than they!
2. You could be closer to the Pharisee.
> Perhaps you think your better than the average person...
> Perhaps you let people know you think your better than they...
> You may even think that God will take you to heaven because you are so spiritual.
> You could be like the Pharisee!
3. Or, you could be like the Publican.
> You don’t think that God will even save someone like you.
> You think there is no hope for such a wretch as you are!
4. Don’t you see the truth of the parable?
> No matter how good you are, its not enough to get you into heaven.
> No matter how bad you are, its not enough to keep you out!
> But, whether your closer to a Pharisee or a Publican, there is still only one way to heaven
> Repent of your sins and beg God for mercy for you a sinner.
D. Any good that you have in you, comes from God (v. 9).
1. So we should never trust in ourselves that we are righteous (Phil. 3:4-9).
> "And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness... but the righteousness which is of God by faith."
2. Nor, should we despise others, because we think we are righteous of ourselves!
> Nothing is worse than a self-righteous Christian.
> Because a real Christian knows that any righteousness we have, we received by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
