Bible Studies
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BY COMMENTING
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
As A Member OR
Visitor
Message Writer
Hire Writer
Report Article
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
As A Member OR
Visitor
Message Writer
Hire WriterReport Article
Bible says this parable was told to those confident of their own righteousness and look down on everyone else. Self-glorification is present danger. Jesus told let your left hand do not know what your right hand does regarding giving alms. Seeking status quo before God and man by mere observance of the law gives self-righteous and critical spirit.
Two people went to pray in the temple. One Pharisee who believes in resurrection and existence of angels, demons and spirits. Sadducees do not believe these. Sadducees are religious authorities and Pharisees are domain experts or men of influence who were under Sadducees. Jesus is not a Pharisee or Sadducee.
They are Jewish religious groups and the prayer of Jew is Lord thank you for not creating me as a woman, slave or gentile. Extreme Pharicism divorces his wife even for just disrespect. Jesus told they travel land and sea to make one convert and after converting they make him 10 times wicked than them.
Converts to Judaism are called Proselytes and God-fearers. The difference between these both is Proselyte is a convert to Judaism and does not need their background. And God fearers are converts to Judaism and also need their background. Pharisees strain at a gnat but swallow a camel. In the parable he prayed Lord thank you for I am not robber, evildoer and adulterer nor like other people or like this tax collector who stood at a distance and praying in the same temple.
They fast twice a week. That too on Monday and Thursday because in those days market days in Jerusalem. They fast in those days and do not comb hair and disfigure their faces and wear old clothes and goes to market so that everybody notices their look at how spiritual exercise of fasting. They enlarge their phylacteries. Phylacteries are scripture portions tied on forehead and wrist. Because forehead is close to head and wrist is close to heart. They give tithes in cumin but neglect justice.
But the tax collector could not even look to heaven and bet his breast and said Lord have mercy on me a sinner. If you confess your sins and believe that Jesus Christ raised from the death you will be saved. Tax collectors are also Jews they take money from their own people and give to Romans. Some impose heavy taxes illegally.
Jews said Jesus was glutton and winebibber because Jesus was eating with tax collectors namely Matthew and Zacchaeus. And they said John the Baptist had devil because he came neither eating nor drinking. Tax collectors were low in status. People called them sinners. Jesus told healthy does not need doctor but the sick. And Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. If you know this Jesus desires mercy not sacrifice. Means acknowledgement of God is greater than the sacrifices of burnt offerings.
Tax collector went to home more justified than the Pharisee. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us of all unrighteousness. Humble will be exalted and exalted humbled. Humility comes before honour and pride before downfall. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Humility is acknowledging who you are as well as who you are by God. Humility is the will of God. Humility is the fear of God and its wages are riches, honour and life. Jesus told when you go to meetings sit in the lowest seat then host may call you to high seat. Do not sit in high seat and if any honourable man than you comes host asks you to sit in low seat from high seat.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 323 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Rev. Daniel Sagar or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 323 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.