"He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 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.'" Luke 18:9-14

1. TWO MEN

• Pharisee - observant of the Law, rule-keeper, self-congratulatory, token worshipper (“God, I thank you..”) and contemptuous toward others who did not “measure up”
• Tax Collector (for the occupational forces) - extortioner, unjust, adulterer (?), and broken

2. TWO PRAYERS

• “...standing by himself, prayed”
• “...standing afar off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast...”

3. TWO RESULTS

Q: What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A: That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. The Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1

Q: What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?

A: Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance. The Heidelberg Catechism, Question 2