It's Faith that pleases the Father

I. Introduction

Have you ever recieved a gift you did not want? I have a certain family member that always gets me a bad gift. I use to be disappointed but now it has turned into a moment of anticipation.

There is an attribute that God is looking for in us. God is looking for Faith.

These parables help us to see what that looks like. They are illustrative stories. They are not true stories, rather stories to teach truth.

II. Unjust Judge

1. The point of the parable is given here.

2-5 The parable

6,7 The comparison and the lesson

If a cruel judge can be pestered into hearing our cry certainly our sovereign, compassionate Lord hears us.

He heard her not due to her status

He heard her not due to her rhetoric

He heard her not due to her accomplishments

He heard her because his heart was moved with aggrevation

God is the same

He does not hear us because of our status

He does not hear us due to our rhetoric

He does not hear us due to our accomplishemnts

He hears because His heart is moved by compassion

8 Jesus uses a question to give us an application

If we are supposed to always pray and not lose heart will Christ should find that in us when He returns

Why wouldn’t he?

So, what is the connection between Faith and prayer?

II. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

The 2 characters are the pharisee and the tax collector

What comes to your mind when you think of a pharisee

That is because you have read the Bible (like a spoiler)

The listeners would have expected differently

Pharisee would have been hero, Tax collector the enemy

9 Luke gives the purpose

This parable is to combat self righteousness (legalism)

Self righteousness is an interesting aspect of the sin nature

When i discipline one of my children one of the others says “i was being good”

10-12 The Pharisee’s self centered prayer

Jesus wasn’t using hyperbole, this is how they prayed

Who does this prayer glorify?

The Pharisee

It adds rules to congratulate itself on following them

Who does it vilify?

The tax collector

Legalism always does this

Who does this prayer glorify?

The Pharisee

It adds rules to congratulate itself on following them

13 The Prayer of the tax collector

Stands far off (not for a show)

Looks down (repentant)

Strikes chest (sorrowful)

Asks for forgiveness

Confesses his sinfulness

This is saving faith

14: Jesus uncorks two bombshells

The Tax collector is Justified before God

He would have been considered unredeemable

The Pharisee was not justified

Conclusion: Turning to God in faith for redemption leads to salvation, trying yourself to be good leads to condemnation

This teaching typically leads to two reactions

Some will believe in it and be saved

Many will reject it, and be condnemed after death. In this life it often makes them angry.

They killed Jesus over this teaching