Proper 25
Luke 18:9-14

The sermons for Sundays Proper 25 and 26 are provided by Rev. Lisa Hardesty. Lisa is the co-senior pastor of Cherokee Church of the Nazarene in Cherokee, North Carolina.

The Pharisee and the tax collector were far apart from each other on the social and spiritual hierarchy scale. The Pharisee not only wants the Lord to hear what he has to say, but he wants everyone else to hear it. The tax collector, having been cut off from regular Temple worship by the religious leaders of his day, goes straight to the only one who would welcome a sinner’s prayer. The Pharisee and the tax collector stood on common ground before the Lord.

If we fast forward 2,000 years a lot has changed, but has it really? There are many people who sit in the pews today very confident of their own salvation.

First of all we need to realize our own need before the Lord--that we all stand on common ground before him. Even though we have been a Christian for a long time, we still need to realize that attitudes and actions that are left unchecked may not be pleasing to the Lord and are detrimental to our relationship with Him. The modern day Pharisee is the one with the critical spirit who cannot find anything right with anyone or anything and constantly belittles those who don’t meet their standards.

Secondly, we need to model our lives after Jesus. We cannot be a people who are judgmental on those who are still in sin or even on a new baby Christian who is still struggling with an issue in their lives. We need to pray for those who are broken and are often passed over for any redeeming quality.

Thirdly, we cannot be so confident of ourselves that we forget to develop our relationship with the Lord. Failure to do so will result in failure to thrive in our relationship with Him. Development of our relationship will keep us from developing the attitudes that are judgmental or uncompassionate. We need to let go of what is unimportant and hold onto what is important so that we might win the world.

Last of all, the house of the Lord should be a welcoming place for those who seek him. Remember, the one who goes home justified before the Lord is the one who has the humble heart before him, and the Lord looks upon the heart.

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