Humility and Mercy: The True Path to God

Today’s focus was on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18, exploring the heart of how we approach God. The story began with a vivid illustration: a man trapped in a well, unable to escape by his own efforts, symbolizing our spiritual predicament. No matter how hard we try—whether by climbing the ladder of good works or comparing ourselves to others—we cannot reach God on our own. This sets the stage for Jesus’ parable, where two men come to the temple to pray: a Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, and a tax collector, painfully aware of his sin and need for mercy.

The Pharisee’s prayer is a showcase of self-reliance and pride. He stands apart, listing his religious achievements and comparing himself favorably to others, especially the tax collector. His focus is on external acts—fasting, tithing, ritual purity—yet he misses the heart of worship: humility and dependence on God. The Pharisee’s error is not in his discipline, but in his belief that these acts make him righteous before God. He is blind to his own need, trusting in his own efforts rather than God’s grace.

In contrast, the tax collector stands at a distance, unable even to lift his eyes to heaven. His prayer is simple and desperate: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” He brings nothing but his need, acknowledging his inability to make things right on his own. This posture of humility and repentance is what Jesus commends. The tax collector, not the Pharisee, goes home justified—declared righteous by God—not because of what he has done, but because he throws himself on God’s mercy.

This parable challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we trusting in our spiritual performance, or are we coming to God with empty hands, aware of our need for grace? The only way to approach God is through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, who fulfills the requirements of the law and offers us mercy. Our acts of worship, giving, and service must flow from gratitude and dependence, not from a desire to earn God’s favor. In the end, it is not our resume, but Christ’s righteousness, that brings us into right relationship with God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True approach to God begins with humility, not self-reliance. The Pharisee’s downfall was his confidence in his own righteousness, which blinded him to his need for grace. When we come to God convinced of our own goodness, we miss the heart of worship and risk being humbled by God’s judgment. [52:49]
• 2. Spiritual disciplines like giving and fasting are meant to be acts of worship, not means of self-justification. When we give or serve out of obligation or to impress others, we miss the point. God desires a heart that recognizes all we have is from Him and responds with gratitude, not legalism. [64:04]
• 3. The tax collector’s prayer—simple, honest, and desperate—shows the posture God honors. He stands far off, unable to look up, beating his breast in sorrow. This is a model for us: to come before God with nothing but our need, trusting in His mercy rather than our merit. [68:36]
• 4. God’s mercy is not earned, but received. The parable points to the atoning work of Christ, who fulfills the law and offers us justification by grace. Our only plea before God is His mercy, not our accomplishments, and this is the foundation of our hope and rest. [73:12]
• 5. Self-exaltation leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God, while humility leads to exaltation and restoration. The one who humbles himself will be lifted up by God, and in that, God Himself is exalted. Our right standing before God is not about being better than others, but about recognizing our shared need for grace. [79:34]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [26:48] - Opening Worship: I Surrender All
• [29:47] - Gracefully Broken: Offering Ourselves
• [33:18] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
• [36:32] - Special Women’s Book and Art Gathering
• [38:18] - Introduction to the Parable Series Finale
• [40:54] - The Parable’s Context: Approaching God
• [42:59] - The Trap of Self-Righteousness
• [45:00] - Who Were the Pharisees?
• [48:46] - The Tax Collector: Outcast and Opposite
• [52:49] - The Pharisee’s Prayer: Pride and Performance
• [63:20] - The Heart of Giving and Worship
• [67:51] - The Tax Collector’s Prayer: Humility and Need
• [73:12] - Mercy, Atonement, and the Work of Christ
• [79:34] - The Parable’s Conclusion: Exaltation and Humility
• [86:25] - Closing Reflection: Resting in God’s Mercy
• [88:21] - Closing Worship and Benediction

Bible Reading

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV) — He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but 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. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Observation Questions

1. What are the main differences between the Pharisee’s and the tax collector’s prayers in this parable? ([52:49])
2. According to the parable, what was the outcome for each man after they prayed? Who went home justified, and why? ([01:19:34])
3. How does Jesus describe the attitude of those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous”? ([42:59])
4. What physical actions or postures did the tax collector take during his prayer, and what do they show about his heart? ([01:08:36])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus commend the tax collector’s prayer over the Pharisee’s, even though the Pharisee had a strong record of religious discipline? ([01:19:34])
2. What does it mean to be “justified” in the context of this parable? How does this relate to the idea of being made right with God? ([01:20:51])
3. The Pharisee’s prayer focuses on his own achievements and compares himself to others. What does this reveal about the danger of self-reliance in our spiritual lives? ([52:49])
4. The sermon mentioned that spiritual disciplines like giving and fasting are meant to be acts of worship, not ways to earn God’s favor. How can these good practices become empty or even harmful if our hearts are not in the right place? ([01:04:04])

Application Questions

1. The Pharisee was confident in his own goodness and compared himself to others. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself comparing your spiritual “resume” to others? How does this affect your relationship with God and people? ([52:49])
2. The tax collector came to God with nothing but his need, asking for mercy. When was the last time you approached God honestly about your need for grace, without trying to “clean yourself up” first? What would it look like to do that this week? ([01:08:36])
3. The sermon used the image of a man trapped in a well, unable to escape by his own efforts. Can you think of a time when you felt stuck spiritually or morally? What did you try to do to “climb out,” and what finally helped you? ([41:34])
4. Giving, serving, and other spiritual disciplines can become routine or even prideful if we do them to impress others or earn God’s approval. Is there a specific area where you feel tempted to “perform” spiritually? How can you shift your motivation to gratitude and dependence on God? ([01:04:04])
5. The parable warns that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” What are some practical ways you can practice humility in your daily life, especially in your faith or church community? ([01:19:34])
6. The only way to approach God is through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, not our own accomplishments. How does this truth change the way you think about your failures and successes? ([01:13:12])
7. The sermon cautioned against walking away thinking, “Thank God I’m not like that Pharisee.” How can we guard against spiritual pride, even as we learn from this story? ([01:19:34])