The Pride of Man The Pharisee and the

The Pride of Man

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18: 9 -14 n 9. Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: n 10. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Pride of the Pharisee n 11. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men-- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. n 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess. ’

Humility of the Tax Collector 13. “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!” n 14. “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. ” n

Who are you? n Whom do you see yourself as? n Can you compare yourself to the Pharisee? n Or do you see yourself as the tax collector?

Defining Pride PRIDE: n 1. Generous elation of heart; a noble self-esteem springing from a consciousness of worth. n 2. Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.

What does God’s word say? Proverbs 8: 13 n The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. Proverbs 11: 2 n When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 13: 10 n 10. By pride comes only contention, But with the well-advised is wisdom. Proverbs 16: 18 n Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

New Testament scriptures Mark 7: 20 -23 n 20. And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. n 21. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, n 22. “thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

Mark 7: 23 23. “All these evil things come from within and defile a man. ” I John 2: 16 n For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-- is not of the Father but is of the world. n

What comes with pride? n n God hates pride and arrogance (Prov. 8: 13) Pride comes…then shame (Prov. 11: 12) With pride comes contention (Prov. 13: 10) Pride before destruction (Prov. 16: 18) n n n Haughty spirit before a fall (Prov. 16: 18) Pride is evil and defiles a man (Mark 7: 20 -23) Pride of life is of the world and not of the Father (I John 2: 16)

Nebuchadnezzar’s pride Daniel 4: 30 -32, 34, 37 n 30. The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty? ” n 31. While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!

God’s judgment n 32. And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. ”

Nebuchadnezzar humbles himself n 34. And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, And his kingdom is from generation to generation.

God humbles the prideful n 37. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to abase.

Hezekiah’s pride 2 Chronicles 32: 24 -26 n 24. In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. n 25. But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.

Hezekiah humbles himself n 26. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah’s pride with the Babylonian Envoys 2 Kings 20: 13 n And Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures-the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory-- all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

What pride does to men Puffs them up to a position they didn’t earn n Exalt themselves and not God n Forget that they have nothing without God n Brought destruction on themselves n Defiles a man before God n

What must we remember? n n n Not to trust in self but in God Don’t despise others Remember God’s mercy to us sinners If we exalt ourselves, we will be abased Pride is an evil way n Pride leads to many things: contentions, shame, destruction, and defilement.

Our Christian service Let’s remember we have been cleansed of our old sins: Romans 5: 8 - But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. n We serve God and not ourselves: I Corinthians 6: 20 - For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. n

Our lives should be humble As Christians our lives should be lived in service to God. n Christ was meek and lowly in heart n We have nothing apart from God n God gave us our lives through death of Jesus n Obey God in all things So are you like the tax collector or the Pharisee? n

Have you obeyed God? John 3: 16 n For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Acts 2: 38 n Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.