A Good Man Lost, A Bad Man Saved

LUKE 18:9-14 “A GOOD MAN LOST – A BAD MAN SAVED”

A) When Jesus preached and taught among men on earth, He found that there were some men

which trusted in themselves that they were righteous!

* It was to them that He spoke this parable ... And if He preached in America today, He would

need to preach it again!

* The kind of religion which trusts self and claims righteousness above others was an abomination

to the Lord Jesus in Palestine over 2000 years ago. * He hates the same sin today just as much!

* And it’s not only a sin most hateful to God, but most dangerous to the people who commit it!

B) Self righteousness is the most wicked of all sins because it covers sin, excuses sin!

* It leaves no room for penitence which God so greatly desires, and feels no need for mercy which

God is so willing to give!

* It is the most dangerous sin because it is the one least likely to be confessed and forsaken and the

least likely to be brought to God!

* This is a double sin ... The man who trusts in himself that he is righteous, despises others!

* Pharisees always despised Publicans, and the man who claims holiness is the quickest to despise

others! * I have found that very prevalent among those who speak in tongues!

* Those who trusts in themselves also despises others, so it’s a double sin that Jesus rebukes in this

parable! * Do you trust in yourself that you are good?

* Do you feel that you are better than others? * Then to you Jesus gives this message!

(1) A GOOD MAN LOST – V.11-12! * He really was a good man!

* We’ve been taught to despise the Pharisee, but here we ought to credit this man with the high

morality that he had for himself!

* Jesus, who told the story, did not deny anything the Pharisee said!

* Jesus used this Pharisee in Luke 18 because he was a good man! * 6 things .......

A) One: The Pharisee Went To Church! * And that is in his favor .......

* Because no man can either be a good citizen of his country or be an example to those about him

or be what he himself ought to be who doesn’t go to the house of God!

* It is greatly to the credit of this Pharisee that he went up into the temple!

B) Two: He Went To Pray! * He was not like the fool who said in his heart, “There is no God.”

* He was not like the calloused and indifferent who do not believe in prayer!

* He wasn’t like the profane soldier who never prays until he’s in a fox hole! (Sailor)

* No! This man prayed to God and he did it regularly and in public, in the house of God he prayed!

C) Three: He Was No Extortioner! * The word means “one who snatches away.”

* No doubt he had the publican in mind when he said that! * A Publican was a tax collector!

* This Pharisee was no extortioner, taking by foul means!

D) Four: Nor Was He Unjust! * The word used here is a general term meaning wicked or

unrighteous! * Christ divided all men into two classes when he said in Matt. 5:45 .......

* “God sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

* In that sense the Pharisee was just, not unjust! * He was classed with the righteous, not with

the wicked ... He was a good man!

E) Five: He Was No Adulterer! * He said so and Jesus didn’t deny it!

* He revered his home ... He kept his marriage vows, and his wife trusted him!

* He never feared the shame of exposure of a secret love affair!

* He was an upright, moral man, a good man in the sight of all who knew him!

F) Six: He had a sincere zeal for religious things! * Not only did he go to the house of God .......

* Not only did he go there to pray to God ... But he brought his tithes into the temple!

* One tenth of his money was sacredly given to the support of the house of God!

* That in itself proves a certain genuineness in his religion ... Sincerity of his heart!

* And get this ... He fasted twice a week! * Many a man never takes time to think about God .......

G) But not the Pharisee! * Two days out of seven, he’d fast and pray!

* He must’ve had a genuine desire to please God! * He gave of his time, his money, and regularly