Dr Paul Allen

Luke 18:9–14  “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 14). After encouraging persistence in prayer by telling the parable of the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1–8), Jesus turned His attention to the problem of self-righteousness. We see this in today’s passage, which records our Lord’s parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (vv. 9–14). In showing the folly of those who look to their good works as the basis of their status before our Creator, Jesus gives us essential instruction regarding our justification—our being declared righteous in God’s sight. The original audience of the parable consisted of those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” (v. 9). Luke’s introductory comment reveals that if we have contempt for those who appear to us to be less righteous than us, we are trusting i...

During the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the week is known as Passion Week, Jesus confronted and confounded the religious leaders in the city of Jerusalem. After the triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple, some of these religious leaders challenged Him, asking, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” (Matt. 21:23). This question set off a series of debates with the priests, the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees (21:24–22:46). All of this culminates in Matthew 23, where Jesus pronounces seven oracles of woe against the scribes and Pharisees (Vv. 13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29). He introduces these oracles of judgment with the following words: Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, b...