richard navarro Supporter

If we look just a little bit further into the book of Luke in chapter 18 verse 9-14 we find the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector : To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

We find that the tax collector saw his own heart for what it really was...it was full of sin and he knew that he needed mercy. The Pharisee on the other hand was so proud of "his good works" and was depending on them to be acceptable to God. To answer the question we must first know the definition exalt is defined as: to hold (someone or something) in very high regard; think or speak very highly of- in this case the Pharisee. And humbled is defined as:having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.- the tax collector. So to exalt yourself is usually a sign of pride, to humble yourself is a sign of honesty. Pride of life is a sin, but to be honest is truth.

January 05 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Luke 14:11: For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

When Samuel was old, he made his sons judge over Israel, but they walked not in his ways. All the elders then came to Samuel to make them a king. Lord then told Samuel, "They have rejected Me that I should reign over them. Shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them, for they shall cry for the king they had chosen." (1 Sam 8:1-5,9,11-18) Lord having mercy on them then sent Saul to Samuel, for He changed his heart and set him to be the king along with the band of men whose hearts God had touched. (1 Sam 9:16/10:9,24-26) Samuel was then told by all the people, "Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God for they had added unto all their sins this evil to ask for a king." (1 Sam 12:19)

Saul the Benjamite, the son of the forefathers who were the mighty men of power, was then made a king and was told to hearken unto the voice of the words spoken through Samuel by the Lord. Saul feared the people who were with him and obeyed their voices. This fear that he had was to please them and look out to be praised. (1 Sam 15:1,24) Samuel then mourned for Saul for the Lord rejected him and then chose a lad of Jesse the Bethlehemite to be a king. David was then anointed to be a King who went to battle and returned from his slaughter of the Philistines. The women came out of all cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul for they said, "Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands," and this saying displeased him. (1 Sam 16:1/18:7-8) 

Saul eyed David from then on, wanting him to fall into the hands of the Philistines, and spoke to his son and his servants to kill David. (1 Sam 18:25/19:1) The Lord searches the heart and tries the reins to give everyone according to their doings. The Philistines fought against Israel, and King Saul along with his sons then fled. Saul then took his sword and fell upon it and died. (1 Sam 31:4-5) 

Today many judges for rewards who lean on their understanding and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No evil can come upon us.” (Micah 3:11) Today my brethren be not many teachers for in many things we offend all in words testifying, for you shall receive a greater condemnation. (James 3:1-2) For if any man offends not in words the same is a perfect man able to bridle the whole body it is he that humbles himself and shall be exalted by the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:10: I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

October 12 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report