Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

By Mary Vee
Luke 18

Peter

Photo by Mart Vee - The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.

Jesus used parables as a way to teach the crowds, or Pharisees, or even the disciples.

Today he told this parable to a specific group of people, the ones who felt confident of their own righteousness and as a result looked down on everybody else. 

This is the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector:

Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisees are a group of highly learned men. They have studied and prepared for their very important role in the Temple for nearly their entire life. They have the sacred scrolls memorized, quote laws, and are the religious teachers for the people.

The tax collectors are Jews who were employed by the Roman government. They are told the amount to collect from each person. They also have the right to require the people to pay more than Rome demanded. This money the tax collectors could keep for themselves as their salary. Most people didn't like the tax collectors because they demanded so much from the people.

On this day when the Pharisee and the tax collector went up to the temple to pray, the Pharisee stood on the highest step and looked out at everyone standing in the court. He held out his arms calling attention to himself and said, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men. I'm not a robber, evildoer, adulterer, and thankfully I am nothing like this tax collector who is standing next to me."

He looked down at the tax collector standing on the bottom step then said, "Oh God, you know I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I receive." He said a few more words and ended his prayer.

The tax collector kept his distance from the lofty Pharisee. He kept his eyes toward the ground, not even looking up at heaven. The tax collector beat his breast and wept then said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." That was all he managed to utter.

Jesus looked at the crowd and said, "This man, the humble tax collector, and not the arrogant Pharisee, went home justified before God. Everyone who praises himself will be humbled. He who humbles himself will be honored."

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Did you Know the Kingdom of God is In Those Who Believe?

By Mary Vee
Luke 17

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee, Arizona

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.

The Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the kingdom of God come?"

Jesus said, "You won't see the kingdom of God with your careful observations. People won't say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

Jesus turned to the other disciples and me and said, "The time is coming when you will long to see the Son of Man, but you will not see Him. Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Don't run off after them to see the man and be deceived.

"The Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. First, though, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

"Think of the days of Noah. That is what life will be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage to the very moment Noah entered the ark. The door closed and the floods came, destroying everything not aboard.

"Remember what you were taught about the days of Lot? People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. On the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven, destroying everything in the city.

"This is how the day will be when the Son of Man is revealed to the world. 

"On that day no one who is on the roof of his house will be able to go down and get the goods left in his house. Neither will anyone in the field be able to go back for anything. Do you remember what happened to Lot's wife? She looked back, longing for what she'd left behind. Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life will preserve it.

"On that night, two people will be in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 

"Two women will be grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other left."

We turned to him, confused about what he meant. We asked, "Where will this happen, Lord?"

Jesus answered, "Where there is a dead body, the vultures will gather. Don't give up telling others the Gospel. Keep praying."

To explain what he meant he told us a story. I will share it next time.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

The Woman With the Alabaster Jar.

By Mary Vee
Luke 7

From Luke's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee. View down to the Sea of Galilee from
the Mountain where it is believed Jesus was at this time.
Capernaum is down and to the left by the shore.

My name is Luke, I am a disciple of Jesus. The other disciples are here with me as well. We went to an interesting dinner. Here's what happened:

A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner at his house. In our time, when an invitation went to such a teacher like Jesus, the host knew his disciples would come as well.

We arrived at the Pharisee's home and were shown to the table. In our time, people did not sit on chairs to a table. We reclined. It's true!

Jesus reclined at the table along with other guests. 

One more difference in a special dinner like this, sometimes men or women came into the home after hearing a certain guest was there. They expected to be let into the home and were.

I mention this because a woman happened to come into this Pharisee's home. She had an alabaster jar of perfume in her hands and whispered to the man at the door that she'd heard Jesus dined here tonight.

She walked into the dining area and stood behind Jesus's feet, (remember he is reclining at the table). Tears fell down her face first slowly then with great sorrow.

One of the other guest lived in this town. He told us this woman was a great sinner. One who usually was not welcome in most places. 

She wept more and more, sobbing and wiping her tears that fell on Jesus's feet. She kissed His feet, showing Him honor then poured the expensive perfume from her jar onto his feet. All the while she wept and wiped his feet with her hair.

The Pharisee who was the host looked at the woman and scowled. He sipped his drink then said softly so only one or two near him heard. "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She is nothing more than a sinner."

Jesus looked at the Pharisee and said, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

The Pharisee smiled with such pride. "Tell me, teacher."

"All right. Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay the money lender back. Out of compassion, he canceled the debts of both. Which of the two borrowers will love the moneylender more?"

Simon the Pharisee answered, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Jesus turned to the woman kneeling at his feet and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?" He paused. "I came into your house. You didn't give me any water for my feet as is customary for guests, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 

"You didn't give me a kiss of welcome as is the custom, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 

"You didn't put oil on my head as is the custom for guests, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 

"Her many sins have been forgiven because she loves much, but he who has been forgiven little, loves little." 

Jesus then said to the woman, "You sins are forgiven."

The guests around me and across the table looked at each other and said, "Who is this who forgives sins?"

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Those in the Pharisee's home were surprised at Jesus' words and His kindness to the woman.

Jesus said we will continue visiting villages tomorrow. 

 Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Seeing Less Than The Blind

By Mary Vee
John 5

From John's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Jerusalem

My name is John. I am a disciple of Jesus. I am here with other disciples, so they may add something to what I share today. 

We are still standing in the courts of the Temple. Jesus has been speaking to some Temple leaders who were angry that a man carried a mat. They had found out that Jesus told the man to do it.

They came to Jesus ready with accusations because today is the Sabbath. Last time we talked about what Jesus said to them. Jesus didn't cower earlier and he still isn't. He stands straight, not afraid of these men like most people, and I admit I am one. He is boldly looking at them and saying,

"I don't act on my own. and will not in the future either. I listen to the One who sent me, then do as He says. I am not here to please myself, but the One who has sent me. And because of this, my judgements are always fair and never to my benefit. 

"If I tell you about myself, than my words are not valid. But there is someone else who has spoken to you about me in my favor, and I know what he has said is true. You've even sent messengers to John. They heard him tell the truth to everyone who heard him.

"His message, though, did not begin with him. It began in the heavenly places. I'm telling you this so that you, too, can be rescued and have eternal life. John the Baptist's voice is like a light in darkness, and, for a time, you enjoyed seeing that light and wanted to hear more.

"There is another witness, one who is greater than John. My mission and the things I have been sent to do, alone, prove my instructions come from the Father. The Father, Himself has given testimony of me. You have never heard His voice, or seen Him, and His word does not live in your hearts. 

"Oh, sure, you've studied the Scriptures, searching for answers and think you have eternal life because of all these rituals and acts you follow. But what you have missed is that these very Scriptures point to me. I am here. Right before your eyes. The one sent by the Father. And there you stand, refusing to believe in me, missing an opportunity to truly have eternal life.  

"The praise I receive does not come from mere man. I see you don't have a true love of God. Even still, I pursued you. I have come in my Father's name, and still you have turned me away.

"If someone else came along and gave you his credentials, you'd welcome him and believe him. How can you say you believe in God? You are so consumed with wanting each other's praises. Oh, he has done this and he has done that. Wanting so desperately to get each other's approval when the approval you really need is God's and God's alone.

"I won't accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, even though you have put all your hope in him. If you truly believed what Moses wrote and said, you would believe me because he wrote about me. Since you have missed the deeper meanings in Moses' words, how will you ever believe what I say?"

When He finished those words, we left and headed out to the fields where the corn grew. We were hungry.


I'll tell you more about that next time.

Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.