Two Prayers, Two Hearts: Who Went Home Right with God? | Luke 18:9-14

This Sunday, Ben Woolbright will continue to walk us through the parables in Luke 18. Have you ever found yourself placing more confidence in yourself than you should have in a specific situation? We have all come face to face with the downfalls of self-dependence at one point or another. Unfortunately, self-dependence is not simply a secular issue; it’s a pride issue. Because pride is at the root of all sin and sin exists inside all of us, we often find ourselves looking to ourselves far more than we should. As a result, self-dependence frequently creeps into the Christian life. This self-dependence is frequently revealed to us in our prayers. This Sunday, we are going to look at a familiar parable. Two men come to God in prayer. One man is a Pharisee, and the other man is a Tax Collector. The Pharisee is a religious leader who appears to have his life in order. He is well-respected in his community. He strives to be fully obedient to God’s commands. However, his prayer reveals that his heart is far from God. The Tax Collector is considered the scum of society. He is hated by his community. His sin has led him to not only dishonor God but also betray his people. However, his prayer reveals that he is closer to God than the Pharisee. The Pharisee clings to his righteousness while the Tax Collector clings to his repentance. Join us this Sunday as we conclude our look at the “prayerables” by examining how our prayers reveal the true motives of our justification. Luke 18:9-14 - Righteousness vs Repentance The Purpose of the Parable (v.9) The Setting (v.10) I. The Pharisee (vv. 11-12) A. Prideful Observation (v. 11) B. Righteous Boasting (v. 12) II. The Tax Collector (v. 13) A. Humble Awareness (v. 13a) B. Genuine Repentance (v. 13b) Children’s Discussion Questions Who were the two men in the story Jesus told? What was their job, and how did people see them? What did the Pharisee pray about? Did he thank God for God’s help or brag about himself? What did the Tax Collector pray about? How did his prayer sound different from the Pharisee’s? Which man did Jesus say was right with God? Why? What does this teach us about being honest in prayer? When you talk to God, do you try to impress Him or tell Him the truth about your heart? What does God love to hear from us when we pray?