Wednesday Evening Bible Study

December 19, 2001

Introduction

Last week we looked at a parable designed to teach men that they needed to be always praying.  Now Jesus will talk about how to pray, the attitude we ought to have while in prayer.

:9-14  The Pharisee and the Publican

:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

parable – This is a story that Jesus makes up to teach a truth.

which trusted – peitho – persuade; be persuaded; to trust, have confidence, be confident

This is not the word used to describe “trust” that leads to salvation (pisteuo).  The idea is that these people are “confident” about their own status as being righteous.  They are “persuaded” that they are “righteous enough”.

righteous – dikaios – righteous, observing divine laws; in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God; of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined

despised – exoutheneo – to make of no account, despise utterly

others – loipoy – remaining, the rest; the rest of any number or class under consideration; with a certain distinction and contrast, the rest, who are not of a specific class or number; the rest of the things that remain

They despise all the rest of the world.  Only their little group is special.

Lesson

You are not good enough on your own.

(Isa 64:6 KJV)  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

(Rom 3:20 KJV)  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

(Rom 3:23 KJV)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Does this mean I can’t be confident about my salvation?

No.  We aren’t trusting in ourselves.  We are trusting in Jesus.

:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

went up – anabaino – ascend; to go up; to rise, mount, be borne up, spring up.  The temple was on a hill, you “went up” to it.

the temple – hieron – a sacred place, temple; used of the temple at Jerusalem

Pharisee – Pharisaios – A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognised in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good and evil angels, and to the expectation of a Messiah; and they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country’s cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.

publican – telones – a renter or farmer of taxes; a tax gatherer, collector of taxes or tolls, one employed by a publican or farmer general in the collection of taxes. The tax collectors were as a class, detested not only by the Jews, but by other nations also, both on account of their employment and of the harshness, greed, and deception, with which they did their job.

:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

stood – histemi – to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set; to stand.  Aorist participle.

The problem isn’t in standing.  Standing is an acceptable position for prayer.  The publican will be standing.

But while the publican is standing in the back so he won’t draw attention to himself, the Pharisee is apparently standing in a place so others can see him.

Mt 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

 

prayed – proseuchomai – to offer prayers, to pray

with – pros – to the advantage of; to, towards, with, with regard to

I like the NAS translation – The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself

I kind of think that when my heart is filled with pride, my prayers probably don’t get very far.  I too am really just talking to myself instead of talking with God.

Lesson

Prayer is addressed to God.

Suppose we were going to carry on a conversation, but whenever I talked to you, I held up a mirror to myself and talked to my own reflection in the mirror.  Would you feel like we were having a “meaningful conversation”?

I think that sometimes we have to purposely take down the mirror and remind ourselves who we are talking to.

People in the Scripture often began their prayers in a way to remind themselves just WHO they were talking to.

When Jehoshaphat was faced with an overwhelming enemy, he gathered the people and prayed.  He started his prayer off with:

(2 Chr 20:5-7 KJV)  And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, {6} And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? {7} Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

When the early church began to suffer persecution, they got together and prayed, and their prayer started with:

(Acts 4:24 KJV)  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

True prayer comes out of a deep sense of God’s presence.

I thank – eucharisteo – to be grateful, feel thankful; give thanks

as – hosper – just as, even as

other – loipoy – remaining, the rest; the rest of any number or class under consideration; with a certain distinction and contrast, the rest, who are not of a specific class or number; the rest of the things that remain

Not just any other, but all others.

extortioners – harpax – rapacious, ravenous; a extortioner, a robber

unjust – adikos – descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice; unjust; unrighteous, sinful; of one who deals fraudulently with others, deceitful

adulterers – moichos – an adulterer; metaph. one who is faithless toward God, ungodly

Lesson

What do you think of others?

A bad attitude includes thinking others as lower than yourself.

this publican – telones – a renter or farmer of taxes; a tax gatherer, collector of taxes or tolls, one employed by a publican or farmer general in the collection of taxes. The tax collectors were as a class, detested not only by the Jews, but by other nations also, both on account of their employment and of the harshness, greed, and deception, with which they did their job.

Lesson

Be careful of comparing yourself to others

The Pharisee is comparing himself to others.  He at least isn’t as bad as this other guy.

Illustration

David N. Dinkins, then the mayor of New York , was riding through the city in his limousine with his wife, Joyce.  Looking out the window, they recognized a man doing manual labor on the roadside as “John,” a former suitor of Mrs Dinkins’.  Seeing him, the mayor smiled a bit smugly at his wife.

“You must be so glad,” he said, “to be married to the powerful mayor in the limo rather than to poor John shoveling alongside the road.”

His wife smiled.  “If I’d married John, he’d be with me in the mayor’s limo.”

-- Donna Britt, Psendo-Equality, Santa Barbara News Press, April, 1994, p. A13.

God wants us to compare ourselves with His standards, not with others.

Lesson

What is God doing in YOU

The Pharisee is very aware of others as he is praying.  He is aware of the publican standing nearby.

I think that sometimes we hear a message and we say, “Boy, does so-and-so need to hear this!”

How about you?

What is God saying and doing in you?

:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

I fast – nesteuo – to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days

the week – sabbaton – the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work; seven days, a week

The Law required Jews to fast once each year at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16).  The Pharisees took it well beyond that.  They fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, which were the market days.

I give tithes – apodekatoo – to give, pay a tithe of anything

The Pharisees took their tithing seriously.

(Mat 23:23 KJV)  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

I possess – ktaomai – to acquire, get, or procure a thing for one’s self, to possess

Fasting and tithing are good things.  Don’t be confused and think that we shouldn’t be doing good things.

Lesson

What’s your motive?

The Pharisee seems to be doing good things either to impress others, or thinking he is impressing God.

(1 Cor 13:1-3 KJV)  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. {2} And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. {3} And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

I think there’s a sense in which God can’t really be impressed by much of anything we can do.

Illustration

The other day I was working on some music in my office.  One of my sons came in to sing some of the songs I was playing with me.  Then he wanted to get up on my lap and play the only song he knows how to play on the piano.  Was I impressed, thinking he was the world’s greatest piano player?  No.  I was just blessed because it was my son trying to play the piano.

:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

afar off – makrothen – from afar, afar

standing – histemi – to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set; to stand.  Perfect participle.

would – thelo – to will, have in mind, intend; to be resolved or determined, to purpose; to desire, to wish; to love; to like to do a thing, be fond of doing; to take delight in, have pleasure

He didn’t even have a desire to lift up his eyes

lift up – epairo – to lift up, raise up, raise on high; metaph. to be lifted up with pride, to exalt one’s self

smote – tupto – to strike, beat, smite; of mourners, to smite their breast

breast – stethos – the breast

be merciful – hilaskomai – to render one’s self, to appease, conciliate to one’s self; to be propitious, be gracious, be merciful; to expiate, make propitiation for

The word speaks of blood sacrifice, blood atonement.  

Lesson

It’s by His works we are forgiven.

It’s through the blood of Jesus that we are forgiven.  It’s not by our own righteousness, but by His righteousness.

(Rom 3:23-25 KJV)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; {24} Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: {25} Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

(1 John 1:7 KJV)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

(2 Cor 5:21 KJV)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We need to be careful when we are overwhelmed with condemnation that we don’t fall into the trap of thinking that it’s up to us to get out of the mess.  Yes, we need to repent and turn from our sins, but our forgiveness isn’t based upon what we do.  It’s based upon what Jesus did.

a sinner – hamartolos – devoted to sin, a sinner; not free from sin; pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked

There is a “definite article” with this word.  It shouldn’t be translated “a sinner”, but “THE sinner”

Lesson

Be careful of false humility

Even though the attitude of the publican is the one we want to draw from, we can get caught up in a false kind of humility.

Sometimes we can actually be “proud” of our humility.

:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

went down – katabaino – to go down, come down, descend; as from the temple at Jerusalem, from the city of Jerusalem.  You go “up” to go to the temple, you “go down” to go home.

justified – dikaioo – to render righteous or such he ought to be; to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered; to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be.  Perfect passive participle.

that exalteth – hupsoo – to lift up on high, to exalt; metaph. to raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity; to exalt, to raise to dignity, honour and happiness

shall be abased – tapeinoo – to make low, bring low; to level, reduce to a plain; metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances; of one’s soul bring down one’s pride

humbleth – tapeinoo – to make low, bring low; to level, reduce to a plain; metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances; of one’s soul bring down one’s pride

exalted – hupsoo – to lift up on high, to exalt; metaph. to raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity; to exalt, to raise to dignity, honour and happiness

Lesson

Don’t bury your gifts

There’s a fine line here.  We need to be careful that we don’t take this to the point where we hide the gifts and talents that God has given us.

Sometimes there is a person who feels that they are especially talented, when they are only “so-so”.

Illustration

A young woman went to her pastor and said, “Pastor, I have a besetting sin, and I want your help. I come to church on Sunday and can’t help thinking I’m the prettiest girl in the congregation. I know I ought not think that, but I can’t help it. I want you to help me with it.”

The pastor replied, “Mary, don’t worry about it. In your case it’s not a sin. It’s just a horrible mistake.”

-- Haddon Robinson, "Good Guys, Bad Guys, and Us Guys," Preaching Today, Tape No. 80.

Sometimes there is a person who is actually quite talented and gifted, but when it’s mixed with pride, it becomes an ugly thing.

If you have a gift, you don’t have to hire a publicist.  Use your gift.  Let God be the one who decides whether and when to exalt you.

Lesson

Repentance leads to mercy

The publican was heard by God because of his repentant heart.

Illustration

In his book Great Themes of the Bible, Louis Albert Banks told of the time D. L. Moody visited a prison called “The Tombs” to preach to the inmates.  After he had finished speaking, Moody talked with a number of men in their cells.  He asked each prisoner this question, “What brought you here?”  Again and again he received replies like this:  “I don’t deserve to be here.”  “I was framed.”  “I was falsely accused.”  “I was given an unfair trial.”  Not one inmate would admit he was guilty.  Finally, Moody found a man with his face buried in his hands, weeping. “And what’s wrong, my friend?” he inquired.  The prisoner responded, “My sins are more than I can bear.” Relieved to find at least one man who would recognize his guilt and his need of forgiveness, the evangelist exclaimed, “Thank God for that!” Moody then had the joy of pointing him to a saving knowledge of Christ—a knowledge that released him from his shackles of sin.

Illustration

In one of the coal mines of the north, the top of the pit fell in while a considerable number of the miners were down below, and the shaft was completely blocked. Those who were in the mine gathered to a spot where the last remains of air could be breathed. There they sat and sang and prayed after the lights had gone out because the air was unable to support the flame. They were in total darkness, but a gleam of hope cheered them when one of them said he had heard that there was a connection between that pit and an old pit which had been worked years ago. He said it was a long passage through which a man might get by crawling all the way, lying flat upon the ground—he would go and see if it were passable. The passage was very long, but they crept through it, and at last they came out to light at the bottom of the other shaft, and their lives were saved.

If my present way of access to Christ as a saint is blocked up by doubts and fears, if I cannot go straight up the shaft and see the light of my Father’s face, there is an old working, the old- fashioned way by which sinners have gone of old, by which poor thieves go, by which harlots go. I will creep along it, lowly and humbly. I will go flat upon the ground. I will humble myself till I see my Lord and cry, “Father, I am not worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired servants, so long as I may but dwell in thy house.” In our very worst case of despondency we may still come to Jesus as sinners. “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” Call this to mind, and you may have hope.

-- Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon, (Wheaton: Harold Shaw Publishers, Inc, 1990)

Lesson

God loves humility

(1 Pet 5:5-6 KJV)  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. {6} Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: