Lord’s Supper Am I Ready?
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two
men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I
thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or
even like this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I
get.' "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling
to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be
merciful to me, the sinner!' "I tell you, this man went to his house
justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luk 18:9-17)
As part of preparing yourself for the Lord’s Supper, we are
to examine ourselves as in 1 Corinthians 11.
Jesus tells a relevant parable to our situation.
How do you see yourself?
How do you see others?
This deals with righteousness.
·
Am I justified before God?
·
Have I fulfilled my duties?
·
Am I without excuse?
·
Outward appearance or inward condition?
·
What is the standard by which I judge myself?
Pharisee
Stood by himself-
lack of fellowship
Standing-common
form
God I thank you that
I am not like other men- superior, unteachable, judgmental
Extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, - lists many sins that would be attributed to tax collectors.
Or even like this tax
collector.- starts to single himself out above others. (lacking grace,
compassion, or humility)
Begins to
show God why favor should be bestowed.
I fast twice a week-
only prescribed fast was Day of Atonement.
I give tithes of all
that I get- But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who
are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. "But go and
learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not
come to call the righteous, but sinners."
(Mat 9:12-13)
But
The Tax Collector- hated and despised as a traitor of his
people to serve the Romans.
Stood far off-
Would not lift his
eyes- contrite heart
Beat his breast
saying “God be merciful to me, a sinner!-
I TELL YOU
This man went down to
his house justified, rather than the other.
Everyone who exalts
himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Now look at the very next part of the story;
And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He
would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But
Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do
not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. "Truly I
say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not
enter it at all."
Not only are we to be humble towards God and man, but
children also.
How are we to receive the kingdom of God?
Like
children.
Childlike,
not childish.
