“The REAL Sinner’s Prayer”
Luke 18:9-14
INTRODUCTION: Jesus loved to speak in parables. They grabbed people’s attention. If Jesus said, “Once upon a time, there was a man who ….”, then everybody stopped to listen to the story Jesus was about to tell.
It’s like … when I stop to tell a joke … people will look up (or wake up) to listen. ONLY … Jesus was a better story teller than I am a joke teller.
LIKE … the guy who went to visit his brother in prison. They were eating lunch with 1000 other inmates, when one of the inmates stood up and said “Number 32!”. Everybody began laughing hysterically. After awhile, another inmate stood up and said “Number 12!”, and, once again laughter. He turned to his inmate brother and asked him what was going on. The inmate brother explained that there was only one joke book in the whole prison, and everybody had read it so many times that everyone knew all the jokes by number. The brother decided he would try it. He stood up and said “Number 17!” Silence … not a chuckle. He asked his inmate brother why no one laughed. His inmate brother said, “Some people can tell a joke, some can’t!”.
Jesus gives us the REASON for this particular parable … the AUDIENCE – 18:9. There were some in the audience who thought too highly of themselves … AND looked down on everybody else. These 2 usually go hand-in-hand, don’t they? PRIDE … AND … a CRITICAL, JUDGMENTAL spirit.
WHY? BECAUSE … self-righteousness has to COMPARE itself to something. No one is PERFECT … no one is HOLY. The next best thing is to try to convince others (and God) that we’re BETTER THAN the other poor slobs! WE’RE not perfect … BUT … at least we’re BETTER than they are!
The TRUTH is … we are ALL sinners. We ALL come short of the glory of God. The person who jumps half way across the Suwannee River, is just as wet as the person who only jumps six feet.
Jesus used 2 characters in His story.
• The PHARISEES were the good guys. They were highly thought of in that day … the best of the best. They were highly respected laymen who devoted themselves to obeying all of God’s laws. They were thought of as the “hero’s”.
• The PUBLICANS were the bad guys. They were Jews who had sold out to the Roman government to collect the taxes … the worst of the worst. They were corrupt, traitors, cheaters … the scum of the earth. They were thought of as the “villains”.
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector had several things in common:
1.- THEY BOTH WENT TO CHURCH – 18:10
BUT … they went for different reasons. Let me ask you this morning … “Why do you come to church?”
PHARISEE – He came to church so others could see how religious he was … how good he was … so they could see him there. He never missed a service. AND … when he came, he would always give a public performance. Here was his audience … SO … he would put on a show.
He stood where everybody could see him … this was important to him – 18:11. “stood” … when they prayed, they stood up, hands outstretched, looking up to Heaven, praying out loud.
“prayed thus with himself”. He addressed his prayer to God … BUT … he was praying for others to hear. NOW … when you pray, you pray to someone greater than yourself … RIGHT? The Pharisee thought so much of HIMSELF, that he prayed to HIMSELF! To be truthful, God wasn’t listening anyhow! Matthew 6:5 - “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” He prayed so others would be impressed with what he said … self-centered prayers.
I don’t like to critique the prayers of others. As long as it comes from the heart, it doesn’t have to be fancy, with a lot of “thee’s” and “thou’s”. I am, however, (I’ll be honest with you) sometimes guilty of critiquing the prayers of other preachers! Some preachers PREACH when they pray. They’re not talking to God, but to the congregation. Some preachers pray LONG prayers. I guess they have to catch up on Sunday morning for the time they missed in prayer during the week! I have even been so unspiritual as to TIME the prayers of the exceptionally long-winded preachers!
You don’t have to be LONG, ELOQUENT, or LOUD. A little boy was saying his night-time prayers, and in a LOUD voice he prayed, “Dear God, I’ve been a good boy, and I sure would like to have a new bicycle.” His mother said, “Son, you don’t have to be so loud, God can hear your prayers without yelling. He’s not deaf!” The boy replied, “I know Mama, but Grandma is … and she’s in the next room!”
The Pharisee came to church to show off how religious he was. The Publican came to church for a different reason – 18:13. “standing afar off” – there was a DISTANCE between him and God … AND … he knew it. He was deeply aware of the sin in his life. He didn’t want anybody’s attention … he wanted GOD’S attention. He didn’t focus on other people … he wanted to focus on GOD.
Why do you come to church? Why are you here this morning?
• HABIT? – If so, it’s a good “habit” to be in … BUT … it should be MORE than just a habit.
• PRESSURE? – Someone MADE you come … wife, parents, husband, friends.
• GUILT? – Because you would feel GUILTY if you stayed at home … AFTER ALL … it is SUNDAY!
• WORSHIP? – To connect with God … to join God’s people in praise and worship … hear God’s Word … serve Him … glorify Him.
The Publican came because he had a NEED that only God could meet. That’s a good reason to come to church today. Have you got a NEED that only God can meet? I trust that you will meet God, here this morning. Jeremiah 29:13 – “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
2.- THEY BOTH PRAYED
18:11-12 - The Pharisee had an “I” problem. He was a “spiritual snob” … he had a “superiority complex”. He wasn’t praying … he was BOASTING. Everything he said was probably TRUE. BUT … he was trying to impress everybody … and GOD. “God, you are so blessed to have me as one of yours!”
The Pharisee was consumed with PRIDE. NOW … there’s nothing wrong with a little pride. We’re PROUD to be an American … PROUD to be a member of P.B.C. … we tell our children to “grow up so we can be PROUD of you”.
The PROBLEM comes, when we BRAG about it … AND … put others down because of it. That’s how you can tell if your PRIDE has become a sin.
If I BRAG that I am an American … and you are a foreigner … it becomes a SIN.
If I BRAG that I’m a member of P.B.C. … and you are just a Presbyterian, Methodist or Catholic … SIN.
If I BRAG that my children turned out so good … and yours didn’t … SIN.
“Oh, Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way;
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
‘Cause I get better looking every day.
To know me is to love me,
I must be one really great man;
Oh, Lord, it’s hard to be humble
But I’m doin’ the best I can!”
What did the Pharisee BRAG about? 18:11-12. These were all GOOD things … not being a dishonorable person … praying … fasting … tithing. The Law only required fasting once a year … he did it twice a week!. The Law only required tithing of certain things … he tithed EVERYTHING.
What was he trying to do? He was trying to put himself up on a pedestal … to compare himself with others. Don’t we have a little PRIDE in ourselves, too? “Surely, God must love me more than _______! After all, I come to Sunday Night & even Wednesday Night services. I know my Bible better than most people here. I serve on more committees. I do more than most people. God, surely You must take notes! God, look at how good I am. You must be so proud of me! God, You owe me!”
NOW … I realize that we don’t VERBALIZE it that way … BUT … have you ever THOUGHT that way? Not even a LITTLE?
PRIDE sees the faults of others. The Pharisee even pointed out the Tax Collector – 18:11b. NOW … that’s RUDE! It shows a lack of love. He loved himself more than he loved anybody else. AND … he expected GOD to love him more than anybody else.
Compared to someone else, you & I might look pretty good. The PROBLEM is … we’re using the WRONG STANDARD … the WRONG MEASURING STICK. God doesn’t compare you to anyone else … God compares you to JESUS! See how you measure up to HIM! You can compare yourself to a bank robber, a child molester or a rapist … AND … you look pretty good. BUT … compare yourself to Jesus! That’s how God sees you. Isaiah 64:6 – “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;”
Two wealthy brothers were known in the city for their sinful lifestyle. One of them died, and the remaining brother went to the new Pastor of the local church. He told the Pastor that he would donate enough money to pay for their new building program if he would preach his brothers funeral and tell everyone at the funeral that his brother was a saint. The Pastor agreed. At the funeral service, the Pastor got up and told everyone how the deceased had cheated, stole, lived a sinful life, was wicked to the core, and cheated on his wife. The rich brother was startled, wondering if the Pastor had forgotten their agreement. Then, the Pastor said, “But, compared to his brother, he was a saint!”.
Be careful of COMPARISONS. God only compares us to Jesus … AND … we ALL fall short … AMEN?
3.- THEY BOTH HAD A NEED
BUT … the Pharisee couldn’t see his need. He was too busy seeing his goodness. He was too busy patting himself on the back. Someone once said, “He who toots not his own horn, shall remain in a perpetual state of un-tootedness.”
The Pharisee didn’t see any sin in his own life … ONLY … in the lives of others. Do you know anybody like this? A little earlier, in Mt. 7:3,5, Jesus said – “And why beholdest thou the mote (sawdust) that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam (telephone pole) that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam (telephone pole) out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote (sawdust) out of thy brother’s eye.” They are quick to see the faults in others, but not in themselves. They can JUSTIFY what they do.
The PUBLICAN saw himself as he really was … as GOD saw him … a SINNER in need of a SAVIOR … in need of “mercy”.
The PHARISEE stuck out his chest. The PUBLICAN beat his chest – 18:13. He was in agony over his sin.
The PUBLICAN prayed the REAL “Sinner’s Prayer”. I’ll be honest with you … I have a little problem with the “Sinner’s Prayer”. “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
I’ve seen it misused and abused many times. There have been MANY who have prayed that prayer, and THOUGHT they were saved … BECAUSE … they prayed the prayer. THEN … they live their whole life THINKING they’re saved, when they’re not. Satan has them right where he wants them … a false security. They won’t listen to the gospel message … BECAUSE … they have “prayed the prayer”.
NOW … I’m not saying that everyone who prays that prayer doesn’t mean it. BUT … the prayer that the Publican prayed is the REAL “Sinner’s Prayer”. It was from his heart … it is full of repentance … it’s a plea for “mercy”. “Mercy” is ‘not getting what you deserve’.
• The PHARISEE loved himself. The PUBLICAN hated himself and the sin in his life.
• The PHARISEE prayed to please man. The PUBLICAN prayed because he didn’t please God.
4.- THEY BOTH WENT HOME – 18:14
The PHARISEE went home …UNCHANGED. He was as proud and arrogant as he came to church. He put on a good show … and he knew it … and he was pleased with himself. Isaiah 29:13 – “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”
The PHARISEE was a RELIGIOUS man. BUT … that’s the problem with having RELIGION. It makes you look clean on the outside … BUT … it doesn’t clean up the filth on the inside. Matthew 23:25-28 – “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. [27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
The PUBLICAN went home “justified” … right with God. He came to church so burdened with sin, that he couldn’t even lift up his head and look at God eyeball-to-eyeball. BUT … when he came to God for cleansing and “mercy” … he was cleansed!
There’s a story of a young preacher-boy who was going to preach his first sermon. He had just completed his Seminary training, and, full of pride, he was going to set the world on fire. He walked up into the pulpit with his head held high, and full of self-confidence. He began to preach, but he lost his place, lost his train of thought, forgot what he wanted to say, stammered, and quit after 10 minutes in utter exasperation. He walked down the isle after the sermon with his head down, humiliated. One dear saint, an elderly lady said to him, “If you had gone up to the pulpit the way you came down, you would have gone down the way you came up.”
• The PHARISEE came to church with his head up … proud of who he was. He left the same as he came … no change … no repentance … no cleansing … LOST
• The PUBLICAN came to church with his head down. He left with his head up … praising God … cleansed.
• The PHARISEE came to church and bragged about what HE had done.
• The PUBLICAN left the church bragging about what GOD had done.
Who is the best candidate for salvation? The Pharisee or the Publican? NOT the Pharisee … he didn’t see any sin in himself that he needed to be saved from. BUT the Publican … who saw his sinfulness, and his need for forgiveness.
CONCLUSION:
When Jesus began this parable, everybody thought that the Pharisee would end up being the hero, and the Publican would end up being the villain. WHY didn’t it turn out that way? 18:14b.
Before you can be SAVED, you have to admit that you’re LOST. The Publican didn’t have any problem with that … the Pharisee did. He tried to impress God with how good he was. Let me tell you … that doesn’t impress God! You can’t impress God! The only thing that God is impressed with, is when you come to Him honestly and openly … confessing your sins to Him … in repentance.
If you’re LOST here this morning, the Publican’s prayer is the REAL “Sinner’s Prayer” … “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” You need to come to Him with a heart that is aching over your sin … AND … ask for His “mercy”. The Pharisee “trusted in himself” – 18:9. Your “goodness” doesn’t impress God … BECAUSE … He’s perfect.
If you’re a CHRISTIAN here this morning, you need to pray the same prayer … every day. We need to see the sin in our lives, and ask His forgiveness. We need to pray, “Lord, show me my sin … AND … God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Do you want to go home from here this morning “justified” … OR … the same way you came in? Connect with God this morning. Walk away cleansed.
STAND – PRAY
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“The REAL Sinner’s Prayer”
Luke 18:9-14
INTRODUCTION: The AUDIENCE – 18:9 – Pride, and a critical spirit go hand-in-hand.
- Pharisees were respected in that day … the hero’s.
- Publicans were tax collectors … the villains.
1.- THEY BOTH WENT TO CHURCH – 18:10
- The Pharisee came to put on a show … to be seen – 18:11
- “prayed thus with himself” – God wasn’t listening – Mt. 6:5
- The Publican was “standing afar off”, aware of his sin – 18:13
- Why do YOU come to church?
- The Publican had a need that only God could meet, and a burden that only God could lift – Jeremiah 29:13
2.- THEY BOTH PRAYED
- 18:11-12 – The Pharisee had an “I” problem … p.r.I.d.e.
- Pride becomes a sin when you brag about it.
- The Pharisee thought God loved him more, because he was so good.
- The correct standard is not others, but Jesus – Isaiah 64:6
- God compares us to Jesus, and we ALL fall short.
3.- THEY BOTH HAD A NEED
- The Pharisee couldn’t see his need … blinded by his own goodness … he could only see sin in the life of others.
- The Publican saw his sinfulness & prayed the REAL “Sinner’s Prayer” … for “mercy” = ‘not getting what you deserve’.
4.- THEY BOTH WENT HOME – 18:14
- The Pharisee went home UNCHANGED – Isaiah 29:13
- The Pharisee had RELIGION … clean on the outside, but filthy on the inside – Matthew 23:25-28.
- The Publican went home “justified” … right with God.
- Salvation only comes when you see your need for salvation.
CONCLUSION: You can’t impress God!
- You can’t trust in your goodness to save you.
- Christians need to also pray, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner”, and see the sin in our own lives.
- James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
- Connect with God … and walk away cleansed!
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
