Brokeness, Arrogance, & Jesus

A Tax Collector and a Pharisee went up to the temple to pray…..

Luk 18:9-14 ESV  He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:  (10)  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  (11)  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.  (12)  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’  (13)  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!’  (14)  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.”

Do you identify more with one or the other? _

Can you see yourself as parts of one and parts of the other?

Mat 9:9-13 ESV  As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.  (10)  And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.  (11)  And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  (12)  But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  (13)  Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew was a tax collector. The taxes he collected ultimately went to Rome which was occupying and oppressing Israel. It was a way to get wealthy, but it came at a price of reputation and social isolation. How do you think it felt to be Matthew?

BTW – other Gospels (Mark and Luke) refer to Matthew as Levi when speaking of his being a tax collector. It was not uncommon for people to have multiple names in the ancient world.

Do you think Matthew had seen and heard Jesus prior to this day? ' class='singleline from-mark' style='min-width:unset;width:1414px'>

What attitude do you think that Matthew expected from Jesus that day? (MULTILINE)

What attitude did Matthew actually find in Jesus?

How did Matthew react to this? ' class='singleline from-mark' style='min-width:unset;width:1744px'>

Did Jesus think that Matthew was a sinner?

If He did, was Jesus being Judgmental of Matthew?

Were the Pharisees being Judgmental of the dinner guests?

Was Jesus being Judgmental of the dinner guests?

What was different between Jesus’ recognition of sin in the dinner guests, the Pharisees’ recognition of sin in the dinner guests? (MULTILINE)

Which is the greater hinderance to the Gospel: Sin or Self-righteousness?

Why?

Can anyone be too broken, too sinful for Jesus to save them?

Why, or why not? (MULTILINE)

Have you already come to Jesus for forgiveness and life, or do you still need to?