Kindling

Story

Two men in the temple

Luke 18:9–14

One man thanks God he is not like other men. The other will not lift his eyes and asks for mercy. Jesus says the second went home justified. The parable is aimed at people confident in their own righteousness and who treat others with contempt. Prayer can be a way of standing apart. It can also be the only honest sentence in the building.

How you’d preach it

Do not let anyone hear this as a story about those proud people over there. The Pharisee’s prayer is easy to copy in a conservative pulpit.

  • Pride
  • Humility
  • Prayer

Luke 18

Luke 18:9–14

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