17/11/2025
16thNov 2025, Sunday
PH
Preacher : Pastor Wong Moi Lee
Text: *Luke18:9-14*
The Pharisee and The Tax Collector
1.*Parable by Jesus of…*
- a self righteous Pharisee thanking God for his own goodness but looking down on others.
- a Tax Collector who humbly aks God for mercy.
_Note_:
V10-12: an incorrect view of righteousness.
V13: a correct view of repentance.
i) The parable is a warning against self righteousness.
ii) A true prayer comes from humility and need God’s mercy.
2.*Who is righteous?*
- The Pharisee’s prayer, self-congratulate on his good work.
- The Tax Collector, a stereotype sinner, humbly acknowledging his sins and needs for God’s mercy.
Jesus shares this parable to illustrate that pleasing God, finding God and being right standing with God is not about being outwardly pious. Instead, we should worship God in truth and love , believe in the promise of His words; and obey God’s holy words.
- Jesus states that the tax collector is justified before God.
- God exalts the humble and humbles the proud.
*Romans12:2*
_Paradim Shift: A Renewed Mind_
- We, believers are urged not to conform to the patterns of the world but to be transformed by the renewal mind, hence enabling us to understand and live out God’s good, acceptable and perfect will. It is a true spiritual transformation that helps believers to change their thought patterns to align with God’s words.
- At Redemption, we are conformed.( New Self)
- At Eschaton, we are transformed.( True self)
- A reminder to us of the importance of loving a righteous life. It is only through this practice that Christians can live by God’s design.
*Matthew23:23*
The hypocrisy of the Pharisee focus on tithing - mint, dill & cumin; but fails to emphasize on justice, mercy and faithfulness.
_Note_:
The verse is a powerful lesson against religion that is all about external show , without a heart for God’s true command.
- we should focus on weightier matter, without neglecting the others, meaning that the outward ceremonial duties should not come at the expense of the inward , moral principles.
*Comparison:*
A contrast between pride and humble in prayers.
- Pharisee boasted his righteousness and demean others
- collectors humbles himself and sought mercy from God.
_Conclusion_: Pharisee is left unjustified while the tax collector goes home justified before God.
*Luke 23:47-48*
Dramatic sign of sorrow;beating your chest.
- the Centurion praise God and is convinced that Jesus is a righteous man, not a criminal.
- the crowd are ashamed for their part in Jesus ‘ death, beating their chests. _
_A reminder that if our lives are not impacting our world for Jesus, we are therefore wasting our time and not bringing glory to God_
What is justification ? It is instantaneous.
_Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God that happens the moment a person believes in Christ , not a gradual process_
*Phillipians 3:9*
- A person is made right with God not by their own efforts and law -keeping, but by God’s righteousness which comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Our hope is based on Christ ‘s righteousness being imputed to us by faith.
- we are reminded not to use violence to defend our faith, but true strength is found in submitting to God’s will, showing love and mercy , even in difficult and unjust situations.
*Concluding Remarks*
Our religious acts without God's love/compassion can never make us righteous🙏
We must never compare ourselves with others, nor put others down.
No matter how bad we feel or have sinned, true repentance brings us back to the LORD.
• "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
