Sermons on tax collectors and harlots:

Why Do You Come To Church? Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 21, 2014

Eighth in this series. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector reveals that I either come to church to impress God or to be impressed by God.

Note: Since this message was presented in the form of a table that summarized the two reasons for coming to church some formatting may not look right. Let me begin with a question this morning. I don’t want to embarrass anyone, so I’m not going to ask you for a show of hands or ask you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Why Did The "Sinners" Love Hanging Out With Jesus?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 30, 2013

It's a fact worth pondering: the tax collectors and sinners LIKED being with Jesus. That's not usually how the lost feel around us. What did Jesus have that we don't?

AN IMPORTANT FACT: The tax collectors and “sinners” liked hanging out with Jesus. - Matthew 9:10. - It’s easy to rush past verse 10 and get to the rest of this story, but it’s worth settling for a moment here and thinking about its implications. The tax collectors and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

"the Great Mercy Of God"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jul 26, 2023

A sermon about something we are all guilty of.

“The Great Mercy of God” Luke 18:9-14 Have you ever driven past another person holding a sign “will work for food” and felt a bit of disgust or even contempt in your heart toward them…kind of like a feeling of “I’m better than you”? Have you ever felt superior to a prostitute, a drug addict, an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Running On Empty

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 13, 2023

If we are all we have, we better hang onto it. But those who are full of God can’t wait to give it away.

Show me the alley, show me the train, Show me the homeless man who sleeps out in the rain... And I’ll show you a young man with so many reasons why, There but for fortune go you or I, you or I. Show me the whiskey stains on the floor, Show me the drunkard as he stumbles out the door... And I’ll ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Happiness Through - Humility (Beatitudes) Series

Contributed by Thomas Bartlett on Nov 2, 2020

In Jesus day, the Pharisee’s taught information without transformation, no authority. Jesus turns this upside down and speaks words that captivate the ears of the people, words that brings life. Today we will explore happiness through humility.

Happiness In An Unsettling World Steele Creek Church, Eastfield Campus Dr. Tom Bartlett – September 6, 2020 Matthew 5:3 OUTLINE Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (ESV) For most, happiness comes from things, but could it be the source of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Other

What John Taught (Luke 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 5, 2024

Is what John the Baptist taught relevant to us? Let's look at Luke 3.

What did John the Baptist teach about fruits of repentance? What did he say about the poor, tax collectors and soldiers? What did God say at Jesus’ baptism? Let’s look at Luke 3. How are we introduced to John the Baptist’s ministry? Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus' Guest List

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 19, 2024

You’re probably heard the saying, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. You would think that Jesus could please all of the people all of the time. But he didn’t.

You’re probably heard the saying, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. That sounds true from my experience. No one can please all of the people all of the time, but … if there ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Judas The Coin Collector

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 30, 2022

Sometimes we take life much too seriously. Life is to be taken seriously, but some folks are so serious they can not enjoy life.

If we are going to enjoy life, we have to have a sense of humor. God has a sense of humor. I know some folks have the idea that God sits up in heaven and never cracks a smile. But I do not believe that, I sincerely believe God looks down upon what He has created and has the same kind of joy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-26

Denomination: Baptist

What Kind Of Sinner Are You

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Sep 19, 2005

A sermon for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 21 Two sons in the field

19th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 21 Matthew. 21:23-32 "What kind of Sinner are You? "And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Lessons On Religion

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Sep 16, 2010

In the story of the Pharisee and tax collector, Jesus contrasts true and false religion.

Lessons on Religion Luke 18:9-14 INTRODUCTION A. Are some things what they don’t appear to be? 1. Have you ever thought you might not be who you think you are? 2. Is it possible to think you are a Christian when you’re not? 3. The world seems flat when you look at the horizon, Columbus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Penitent

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 27, 2007

Pharisee/Tax Collector - which one had the right attitude to prayer?

OR/NR 24-10-04 Parable of the Pharisee & Tax Collector - Lk 18:9-14 Story: In a small country village in Sicily, there were two brothers, renown members of the local Mafia. They were mean, bad and very rich. No one had a good word to say about them. Indeed, everyone seemed to have a story ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Anglican

Triumphant Entry & Cleansing The Temple

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Apr 1, 2012

To show how the triumphant entry and cleansing the temple are important to each story.

The notes I used are from Preacher's Sermon and Outline Bible on Matthew. Title: Triumphant Entry and Cleansing the Temple Theme: To show the connection between Matthew 21 and our lives Text: Matthew 21 Introduction The interesting part of Matthew 21 is the contrast between the Triumphant Entry ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-44

Denomination: Church Of God

"Speaking Truth To Power" Series

Contributed by Denis O'callaghan Ph.d. ,th.d., D.d., D. Phil. on Sep 21, 2012

“All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely..."

“Speaking truth to power” Saint of God, We are taking our time reexamining the historical Jesus in the light of His life and sayings. What did He really mean? And what should we make of the fact that millions around the world have died for this man who called Himself “the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:4-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Leave Here Vindicated Series

Contributed by Peter Fisher on Aug 15, 2010

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector as it high lights our position before God.

Introduction What do you think this passage is about? Prayer? Well, yes Jesus uses the way people pray in his parable, so there are some important lessons about prayer. Arrogance? Pride? Humility? There is certainly a lot in the parable about arrogance or pride and humility. Final judgement? The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Anglican

The Ones “go” And The Ones Who Don’t “go”

Contributed by Kelly Durant on Apr 2, 2016

Some say they will obey God and don't, Others resist, then go. The Jews in Jesus day did not think they had to obey Jesus so they did not go to work in the vineyard. No serving when you should is a failure.

The Ones “Go” and The Ones Who Don’t “Go” Kelly Durant Matthew 21:28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Salvation Army