“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” —Luke 18:10-13

Week 1: Jesus

the sick, touched the untouchables, and ate with sinners. (Luke 5:30-31)

There’s nothing “too” about you; you are “

” for whatever God calls you to do.

If you’ve been poor, rich, rejected, dejected, sick or humiliated, God

to use you to lift up the lowly.

Week 2: Being truly seen and noticed makes us come

.

Followers of Jesus affirm, honor, and

women.

Being seen by Jesus means we can be fully who we were

to be. (Isaiah 43:1)

Today: Jesus taught in

.

The word parable comes from the Greek words “para” and “ballo,” meaning “to throw

.”

Jesus’ parables often challenge our

.

These stories draw us in and invite us to

from a new perspective.

The Setup (Luke 18:9)

Jesus speaks to a group that may have included both Pharisees and

. (Luke 18:10)

Pharisees were

regarded as people who not only knew the Law, but also lived it out.

Tax collectors got rich by exploiting their own people for the enemy,

.

The most surprising thing is that a tax collector would even

going to the Temple to pray.

“Were Jesus to have told this parable to a group of Jews, they would have begun with the impression that the Pharisee was pious and righteous and the tax collector sinful and self-interested.” — Dr. Amy-Jill Levine

The Twist

When they arrive, the Pharisee and tax collector begin to

. (Luke 18:11-12)

The Pharisee’s piety went far

what was expected.

Despite all of his merit, the Pharisee falls into the trap of self-righteous

.

“The problem is that religious people are blind to their own sin but are far too willing to communicate their judgment of the sins of others.” — Rev. Adam Hamilton

While the Pharisee is blind to his judgment, the tax collector

his own sinfulness. (Luke 18:13)

The Trap

is an ever-present threat.

As soon as we identify people who are like the Pharisee, we have fallen into the

.

Jesus loves, accepts, and forgives us as we

, and he also commands us to

Reveal Answer

of our sin.

Condemnation is a sign that we feel

or denial about our own sin and shortcoming.

The Key (Luke 8:14)

Jesus wants to save

the humble and the exalted.

Once we accept that Jesus accepts us as we are, we can be set free from

and comparison.

The more we grow, the greater our awareness of our need for grace, and the greater our

for others.

“Grace is unfair. None of us deserve it. That’s what makes it grace.” — Adam Hamilton

Action Steps

Pray the

Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

When you notice yourself judging others, thank God for the gift of grace, and

extending it to others.