Luke 18:9-14
The Middle Letter of Pride is “I”
Introduction
1. Are you full of pride? You will be brought low.
2. Luke 18:9-14 Pride is the problem.
Are you full of pride? You will be brought low.
I. PRIDE DELUDES 18:9
Pride misleads the mind. We don’t know exactly who these certain were, but we know what
they were.
- Self-Centered Trusted themselves…prayed with themselves I is used 5 times in vss 11, 12
*Life revolved around himself v. 14 SELF
*He is the beginning and the end. Life holds little interest except as it relates to himself.
*You are the center of your world in which you live and move. You always look out for #1.
B. Self-Confident trusted in themselves
*They lived life in their own strength and ability.
*God was in their talk, but not in their walk.
C. Self-Righteous they were righteous…this is the way they saw themselves.
*They couldn’t see themselves for what they really were.
*Flesh loves the religious, the show, the piety, but there is very little inward reality.
D. Self-Conceited despised others…they looked down on everyone else.
*Pride is constantly comparing itself with others.
*You think you’re more important than you really are. That’s why it’s so important to be
noticed.
*Pride… “I” lives so much in himself that he doesn’t know how big the world is and how
many really intelligent people there are.
*You have little regard for other people’s opinions, especially if they disagree.
*You look down your nose upon those less favored or gifted. “I’m better than you.”
Are you full of pride? You will be brought low.
II. PRIDE DISPLAYS 18:10
Two men went to pray…
- Pride Goes Through the Motions…is there anything wrong with what they did? No.
There is a problem with why they did it. Are you going through the motions?
- Pride Looks, Feels and Acts as though they were better…Pharisees were good and godly. Just ask them! They were idolized for their spirituality.
Publicans were hired by Rome to collect taxes. They were considered traitors and thieves. They were unclean because of their associations and conduct.
- Pride Evaluates by the Exterior, not the Interior…the Heart.
Are you full of pride? You will be brought low.
III. PRIDE DECEIVES 18:11, 12
- Self-Willed Prayed within himself
*He assumed he was talking with God. He was god of his world. You never seek God’s direction. You never seek God’s desire. You do what you want.
*We pray: “Not thy will, but mine be done.” He doesn’t pray or praise as much as he tells God about himself.
*We dictate to God. We tell Him not only what we want, but we know how He should answer.
B. Self-Assertive Stood…in the midst
1. Pride believes everyone is interested in him and are as fascinated with himself ashe is.
2. Pride monopolizes conversations. You interrupt while others are speaking.(That’s
Convicting!)
3. Pride centers around the theme: I, me, my, mine. Pride expects the world to stop and
look at him. You never dream how offensive your self-importance is to everyone else.
C. Self-Loved “I” is used 5 times in vss. 11, 12. Nothing is said of God.
1. Pride loves himself supremely. It is difficult to love anyone else, even God. Even
human love is tainted by selfishness (what they can do for you or give to you.)
2. Pride makes an idol of himself which he not only loves but worships.
D. Self-Importance I am not as other men…extortionists, unjust, adulterers, tax collectors…
1. Pride sees the faults of others, but not its own.
2. Pride lumps everyone in the same category: like other men.
3. Pride compares and contrasts. We love to see big holes in others. It makes us lookgood.
E. Self-Glorying 12 He went over and above what was expected.
1. He fasted twice a week. It was mandatory to fast on the Day of Atonement. Those
wishing to gain special merit fasted Monday and Thursday. Sometimes they even
whitened their faces.
2. I give a tithe of all I possess. It was customary to tithe crops or income. He gave a
tithe of all he possessed. This was not a bad man, but a very good man. He was not
good enough!
3. Pride see no guilt, no wrong. Pride cannot say, I’m sorry, I was wrong! He’s not!
When the finger of God begins to point at him, he begins to enumerate all of the good
qualities…a sacrificial spirit, generous in giving, etc.
4. His finger points to himself and how right he is!
Are you full of pride? You will be brought low.
IV. PRIDE DEFEATS 18:13
Pride cannot and will not do what this one who saw himself as he really was. Pride cannot
agree with God.
- He Knew Himself He stood afar off…
- He has no right to be in God’s house, before God, in His presence.
- We need to see ourselves as we really are and not what we think we see or how we come across.
- He Knew His Sinfulness nor lift his eyes to heaven
- He was so unworthy.
- I don’t know what he did to bring him to this point, but he is aware of the holiness and awesomeness of God. He is burdened by his sinfulness.
- He Knew His Solution…his only solution was to agree with God.
- His Platform God Both started the same way.
*God is the offended party. *This is the only One who can deal with his sinfulness.
2. His Plea Be merciful Mercy is not giving us what we deserve, but giving us
something better. If justice were given we would all spend an eternity in Hell!
3. His Personalization to me
*It’s not my brother, or my sister, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.
*You can stand for no one else, and no one can stand for you.
*We must stand alone before God.
4. His Penitence a sinner God can’t forgive excuses or mistakes…call it sin! If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin. Call pride what it is…sin.
Pride says, “I can’t and I won’t!”
Are you full of pride? You will be brought low.
V. PRIDE DESTROYS 18:14
A. Our Possibility 14a Justified means, declared righteous he goes home in that condition.
1. Until you agree with God about your sin, you can never be declared righteous.
2. In this case the Pharisee was lost.
B. Our Peril 14b Everyone that exalts himself shall be abased (brought low) God cannot
allow us to go on in pride. One day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.
C. Our Promise 14c If we bow low, God will lift us up. God works positively on our behalf.
Are you full of pride?
Are you sinful, lost, hopeless? Agree with God.
The middle letter in Pride is “I”…bow low before God.
Stop excusing, justifying, blaming and agree with God. Call sin…