March 21, 2021
Lessons Learned
Luke 18:9-17
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. Righteousness is not about being ‘better’ than others or being able to check all the items on a list.
2. Old Testament references that point out that all have sinned:
· Psalm 14:1 “...there is none who does good.”
· Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
· Psalm 143:2 “...no one living is righteous before you.”
· 1 Kings 8:46 “...there is no one who does not sin...”
· Isaiah 64:6 “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment...”
3. Two systems of religion in the world:
God’s divine accomplishment vs Man’s human achievement
· Grace Eph 2:8-9 Works
· Faith Gal 2:16 (KJV) Flesh
· Pure heart, sincere faith (Eph6:5) Hypocrisy (Mark7:6)
· Narrow gate Matt 7:13-14 Broad way
· Wise builder Matt 7:24, 26 Foolish builder
4. Luke 8:9-14 is a parable about how to attain righteousness.
5. In Philippians 3:3-11 Paul considered his self-righteousness of being blameless in keeping the Law as rubbish in order to gain the righteousness of God that depends on faith in Jesus Christ.
6. Contempt—Is anger directed toward a lower-status individual. Wikipedia
7. The outward spiritual appearance of a person does not reveal their heart.
8. Man sees the outward appearance but God sees the heart. See 1 Samuel 16:7
9. The Pharisee compares himself to people with whom he has a better standing (his outward appearance) in the eyes of men.
10. The tax collector sees how far he has missed God’s standard of righteousness.
11. ‘Beating his breast’ is a sign of distress or extreme sorrow.
12. The Pharisee’s prayer is 33 words long (ESV) where he praises himself to God about his accomplishments. (Just to make sure God did not miss something.)
13. The tax collector’s prayer is 7 words long (ESV) where he calls out to God to rescue him.
14. ‘Be merciful’—the man is asking God to provide the atonement for his sins. He is asking that the sacrifice being offered be applied to him.
15. The Pharisee:
Believed in God.
Believed in Scripture.
Had faith in God.
Believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Believed in the sacrificial system.
Believed in atonement for sin.
Believed in God’s forgiveness.
BUT He thought that he had earned forgiveness. MacArthur
16. Jesus declared the tax collector justified without any works, without law keeping, or anything further.
17. Application: 2 ways to approach God.
· With your own merits and good works—Leading to eternal punishment.
· Admitting you are a sinner in need of His mercy and grace—Leading to eternal life.
