|
Copyright © 2012 J. Neely. All rights reserved.
Chapter 18 - Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:10-12
10 Two [duo] men [anthropos] went up [anabaino] into [eis] the temple [hieron] to pray [proseuchomai] ; the one [heis] a Pharisee [Pharisaios] , and [kai] the other [heteros] a publican [telones] .
11 The Pharisee [Pharisaios] stood [histemi] and prayed [proseuchomai] thus [tauta] with [pros] himself [heautou] , God [theos] , I thank [eucharisteo] thee [soi] , that [hoti] I am [eimi] not [ou] as [hosper] other [loipoy] men [anthropos] are, extortioners [harpax] , unjust [adikos] , adulterers [moichos] , or [e] even [kai] as [hos] this [houtos] publican [telones] .
12 I fast [nesteuo] twice [dis] in the week [sabbaton] , I give tithes [apodekatoo] of all [pas] that [hosos] I possess [ktaomai] . KJV-Interlinear
10 'Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. 11 'The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. 12 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' NASB
First I will list a brief summary of the Ten Commandments just so we can use them as a reference later in our study. They begin in Ex. 20 as follows:
Ex. 20:3-17
3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol.
7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
12 Honor your father and your mother.
13 You shall not murder.
14 You shall not commit adultery.
15 You shall not steal.
16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 You shall not covet your neighbor. NASB
Now we have two men going up to the Temple to pray. Two men, gives us a reference of equivalency. Both were members of the human race. Both were born to mothers. Both had someone else change their diapers. Both grew up knowing nothing at first and then they each learned what they knew through instruction from others. Both had volition and the God given right to make their own decisions in life.
Both were a product of Gods grace, for it is God who gives life, not man. It is God who provides whatever environment each of us has to live in during our lifetime. He can make peasants into kings, and reverse that process too. It is God who controls history, not man. And it is God who can judge righteously, not mankind.
That said, and given the Ten Commandments which no man can possibly keep during their life, we have two men, two equivalents as far as God is concerned. What is man? Red dust. That is what Adam means - red dust. But more than that, it is the red dust which is worthless dust. Dust not good for anything. That is man.
The two men go to the Temple to pray. We see the first man represented as a Pharisee, one who is supposed to be trained and educated in the scriptures of God. One who is supposed to have complete deference to God.
Yet this Pharisee does not offer a prayer to God, but goes to a public place, to be seen in public, to be admired by the public, to evaluate himself before man, and to demand or imply that he has no need of God, although he speaks to God so as to be seen and heard in public.
He stood by himself apart from any others who might have been present and in effect had a conversation with himself.
By his prayer he broke every commandment there is. He has a total disrespect for God, and looks to himself as his only authority. His idol is his own righteousness and pattern of self righteous living. His every word which rejects Gods scripture and Gods evaluation of mankind, is a usage of Gods reputation as blasphemy.
He honors the Sabbath as prescribed by the Judaism regulations, but the Sabbath is a place of peace, of inner peace. No man can enter into it except through spiritual growth to maturity. The Sabbath is a spiritual state of mind, not a day of the week. That can only be obtained through the proper study and growth to spiritual maturity while resident in fellowship.
He rejects the authority of God - he rejects his parents. His own self is his only counsel. He looks at the tax collector with contempt. The tax collector does not deserve to breath the same air as he. That is tantamount to murder. Murder is the prevention of a persons right to live or have a life.
He commits adultery every moment of every day. Adultery is a cheating on ones spouse. Our true spouse is Bible doctrine, and cheating on Gods Word is going astray to sin and anything that excludes Gods will for our life. He is guilty of theft, in that he has access and a mandate to teach the Word of God, the only source of true wealth (gold, silver, and precious stones). He withholds that from those he is obligated to teach.
Every word, every thought, that comes out of his mind is a lie. And he covets approbation and anything that any person has to offer by his very act of being in the Temple under the deception of praying to God.
Hypocrites keep up the external performances of religion or whatever their life style is, only to save or gain credit for themselves. Credit for the purpose of satisfying their ego, their social status, their many lusts.
The Pharisee had nothing in his eye but self and his own praise. He had no concern for God or Gods glory.
He added to the mandates of God, 'fasted twice a week,' though not required. He can do better than God. He does not give any credit for Gods work in himself, but has the attitude of, 'I am what I am by my own effort.'
Isa. 58:3
3 'Why have we fasted and Thou dost not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and Thou dost not notice?' Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers. NASB
All of mans arrogance is found within his own effort. He was in need of nothing. He had no respect for anyone but himself. He professes beliefs outwardly, that he does not subscribe to inwardly. He is the ultimate hypocrite.
This attitude does not belong to only the rich, the well placed, or the intelligent, but can attach itself to anyone who ignores the Word of God in their life. This could be you !!!
We do not spend our life evaluating others, but we spend our life evaluating ourselves. The Word of God is our mirror of truth. You can look into it and see the real you. Or, you can ignore it and be just like the Pharisee and never ever come to know just how stupid you really are. Who wants to be a dummy?
End of Lesson |
|
 |
Table of Contents
|
 |
Previous Page |
|
Next Page |
text-indent: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;">
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
If You Wish To Support This Bible Study,
Please Make Your Donation Here
Go To Home Page
|
|
