Two Men Walk Into a Temple

Luke 18:9-17

About the Sermon

Jesus taught us to pray as a means of not losing heart (Luke 18:1–8). Our prayers shape our inner life and relationship with God. They also reveal. In Luke 18:9–17, Jesus teaches us a simple and counterintuitive truth: being worthy to enter the kingdom of God requires knowing you’re not. Self-righteousness is a problem made plain in our prayers to God—how we see ourselves in relation to God and others. So, it turns out, prayer is not the answer. The way into the kingdom is nothing nothing less—and nothing more!—than the mercy of God for sinners in Christ.

About the Series

Luke writes that we may be certain of the things that we have been taught. That is, confident in the good news about Jesus. Apparently some of the things we have been taught are so wonderful they are hard to believe. In his orderly account, Luke announces good news of great reversals in which God humbles the proud and exalts the humble. Peace with God through the forgiveness of sins really is available but on God’s terms. To show us how we must come to him, Luke introduces us to the characters Jesus lifted up and to the proud whom he brought low. In all this he compels us to humbly believe in the Son of the Most High God and to preach this good news of great joy to the end of the earth.
Luke writes that we may be certain of the things that we have been taught. That is, confident in the good news about Jesus. Apparently some of the things we have been taught are so wonderful they are hard to believe. In his orderly account, Luke announces good news of great reversals in which God humbles the proud and exalts the humble. Peace with God through the forgiveness of sins really is available but on God's terms. To show us how we must come to him, Luke introduces us to the characters Jesus lifted up and to the proud whom he brought low. In all this he compels us to humbly believe in the Son of the Most High God and to preach this good news of great joy to the end of the earth.

Sermons in the Series