The Quality of Your Discipleship
Parables of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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THE QUALITY OF YOUR DISCIPLESHIP
Today I want us to look at the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. This is a sort of unique parable, in that it allows us to hear the private prayers of two different individuals. Both of these men seemed to be sincere. Even though this is the case, the qualities of their prayers tell us quite a lot about them. It isn't too often that we get to hear another person’s private prayers. The heart test is the true test of the person's character. For as he thinks in his heart, so [is] he. This does not mean that what one thinks he is that he necessarily is. What it means is that what a man thinks in his inmost being is the kind of person that he really is. Only God can know this quality of a man. For [the] [Lord] [does] not [see] as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." The judgment of God with reference to these two men was doubtless a curious reversal of the judgment of the people that judged by appearance rather than according to the heart.
We need to see one particular thing in this story. Nothing in the scripture says anything about either man going to the temple to pray for show. They both apparently went to pray with good intentions. They probably went at one of the times that was designated for prayer. The Pharisee was a member of the strictest religious sect. The publican, or tax collector, was counted as a sinner by the Jewish people because he worked for the hated Roman government.
God, I thank You that I am not like other men... This man felt that he was in a class all by himself. In his own eyes all other men were inferior to him. The Pharisee was also a bit on the self centered side when he went on in that verse to say ...extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. Although he did not personally know the man he was praying next to, he condemned him because he belonged to a group of people that traditionally had been condemned by the Jewish people. Are we ever guilty of saying something like that in our prayers? Do we ever thank God that we are not like someone else? God loves everyone the same. He loves the rich, poor, young, old, black, white, equally. God is no respector of persons. God loves you and he loves me.
The next thing the Pharisee did in his prayer was to commend himself for the things that he did. He fasted twice a week, why that was more than the law called for. He gave tithes of all that he received, why that is very commendable. To fast and to tithe are both very commendable things to do. Does tithing forgive your sins though? Does fasting save your soul? The answer to both these questions, of course, is no. The only thing that will save your soul is having Jesus in your heart. How do you get Jesus in your heart is the question this morning, that we will be finding out the answer to shortly.
The publican gives us a great contrast to the Pharisee. . He realized that he was unclean and sinful. He felt that he was in a class by himself. He kind of reminds us of a fellow by the name of Paul, who, under conviction for sin, considered himself to be one of the chief sinners. The publican came to pray out of a conviction of a deep need. He dared to believe that God would be merciful. He pleaded nothing of his own righteousness but threw himself upon God's mercy. That is exactly what salvation takes this morning. For you to come to God asking for mercy. To realize that you are a sinner and ask God for forgiveness.
Why was the Pharisee condemned for his prayer? He was not condemned just because he was a Pharisee, there were other Pharisees that were saved. Was it that he was condemned because he was honest? No, honesty is one of the greatest virtues that we can possibly have. Was it because he was a just man? No, his life was probably a pretty good example on how to live the Jewish faith. Was it because he was a moral man? I certainly hope not, there are many of us here today that are trying to live a moral life. Was it because he fasted and tithed? No, those are things that God wants us to do.
Why was he condemned then? He was condemned because his heart was not right. He was an unsaved man. His motives were wrong. His prayer shows us that he had an wrong opinion about himself. He did not see any of his own faults. Unfortunately, too many people today look at themselves and don't see their faults either. He had a wrong opinion about others. He judged others based on what they did or other criteria instead of getting to know them and finding out about them. He had a wrong opinion of God. God had to be proud of him for all he had done, didn't he? He was wanting to congratulate himself for all these honors that he felt that he deserved. He had wrong ideas about salvation. If he thought of it all, salvation was an attainment, the just reward for good works. God owed it to himself to be very proud of him.
Why was the publican commended?
Was he commended because he was a sinner? No. This mans sins were just as horrible in God's eyes as your sins and mine. We are told that if we break one of the commandments we are guilty of them all. Think back in your life. Have you ever broken one of the ten commandments? In that case, you are guilty of them all.
Why this man was commended was the fact that he repented of his sins. He asked God to forgive him. He did not try to blame others for the things that he had done. He knew the blame was his own. He was sorry for what he had done. He knew that he deserved to be condemned. He had one thing, though, he had a spirit that was willing to ask for forgiveness. He was willing to confess his sins and turn from them. He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes [them] will have mercy. He was willing to take God at his promise, that if he confessed his sins and turned away from his sins, God would have mercy on him.
. This man was saved. His sins were forgiven. He was given a right standing with God. He was regenerated. He became a child of God.
We can only imagine the rest of the story. If we had seen the publican later, he would have probably told us something like, "I am saved from the effects of my sin, and even more importantly I was saved in spite of my sin." That was how he was different from the Pharisee. In heart and attitude, in love for God, in concern for others, and in humility before God.
No sins are so black that God cannot forgive. No person is so good that they do not need to be saved. No deeds can save your soul. Only asking Jesus into your heart can save you. If your heart is right, good deeds will follow, for good deeds are the fruit rather than the root of salvation.