Parable of Two Sinners
Luke 18:9-14
There are five examples of prayer in Luke 18:
- A praying widow (v. 3).
- A praying Pharisee (v. 10)
- A praying publican (v. 13)
- A praying ruler (v. 18)
- A praying beggar (vs. 35-38)
In this sermon we will focus on the parable of two sinners who went to the Temple to pray (vs. 9-14).
The PERSONS: A Pharisee and a Publican.
The word “Pharisee” means “separated.” They were the personification of legalism. Their religion was mostly an outward show, but inwardly they were corrupt. Jesus called them “hypocrites.”
The publican was the Roman tax-collector. They were often dishonest, extortioners, and unscrupulous.
Similarities:
- Both went to the Temple, but only one went home justified.
- Both went to pray, but only one actually prayed.
- Both stand, but one stood “afar off.”
- Both begin their “prayer” with the word “God,” but only one man’s prayer was heard by God
The PURPOSE of this parable is a two-fold rebuke of those who are…
1. Self-righteous—“…trusted in themselves that they were righteous…” Paul wrote, “There is NONE RIGHTEOUS, no, not one…There is none doeth good, no not one… For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:10, 12, 23). “We are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6). The only “righteousness” God recognizes is the righteousness of His Son.
2. Scornful— “…and despised others.” “Despise” means “to look down upon with contempt; to treat someone or something as worthless. It is seen by a “holier-than-thou” attitude that Isaiah spoke of saying, “Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou” (Isa. 65:5).
I. The sanctimonious PRIDE (vs. 9-12).
His pride is revealed in…
A. His PUBLIC practice— Going to the temple to pray (Acts3:1). Represents two kinds of people who go to “church”—One is saved the other unsaved.
B. His PHONY praying—“… prayed thus WITH HIMSELF…” He really wasn’t praying to God. His prayer is a perfect example of HOW NOT TO PRAY. Prayer is making a petition or asking something from God. He asks for NOTHING, and consequently he gets nothing!
1. His beginning in prayer. He starts off OK—“God, I thank thee…” Our prayers should begin by thanking God. “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving” (Ps. 95:2). We have so much to be thankful for. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Ps. 100:4).
But instead of thanking God for His mercy, the Pharisee “pats himself on the back” about what a fine fella he thought he was. He was part of that generation mentioned in Proverbs 30:12, “that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.”
2. His belittling of others. He exalts himself by putting others down— “I am not as OTHER MEN are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” He compared himself with the worst of men. But how does he compare with the Lord Jesus Christ?
While he was thankful he was not like other men, others could be equally thankful they were not like the Pharisee!
He mentions three sins:
a. Extortion— To extract money from people by force, blackmail, coercion, or misuse of authority. This was the practice of many tax collectors. But Pharisees did this also when they for pretense make long prayers to “devour wid- ows’ houses” (Mt. 23:14).
b. Unjust— Treat people unfairly.
c. Adultery— Again, some of the Pharisee’s were also guilty of this sin (Mt. 5:27-28; John 8).
No wonder Jesus called them hypocrites.
3. His boasting of self. The personal pronoun “I” five times in two sentences. It was all about himself and not God. God is not interested you telling Him what a great person you are!
a. “I fast twice in the week” (v. 12). But his fasting was to NOT unto God. Zech. 7:5—“When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?”
He did MORE than the law required, and made sure everyone knew it (Mt 6:16)!
b. “I give tithes of all that I possess” (Mt. 23:23). Better than many Baptists.
4. His blindness to pride. He was oblivious of his true condition. Pride is DECEPTIVE—It deceives a person into thinking he is better than he really is. God said of Edom, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwells in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thous set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord” (Obad. 1:2-3).
II. The sinner’s PLEA (v. 13).
A. His CONTRITION. Seen in…
1. His position— “standing afar off…”Being conscious of his sinful condition, he remained on the perimeter of the Temple.
This is the position of every unsaved person to God (Eph. 2:13).
2. His posture—“… would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven…” Ashamed of his sin. Ezra prayed —”O my God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our heads…” (Ezra 9:6) People pray with their eyes closed to eliminate the distractions around them so they can focus on talking to God.
3. His pounding—“… but smote upon his breast…” He smote upon his breast indicating his anguish over his sin.
Partial Sermon: CLICK HERE for full PDF
