1. Living for the Kingdom of Heaven Luke 18:9-17

2. What should we ask God for in our prayers and what should our attitude be as we go before Him?

3. 1. Who did Jesus speak this parable to? Luke 18:9
And he spoke this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

4. Unto certain which trusted in themselves, despised others
Parable to counter the Pharisees erroneous religious influence.
Despised others, literally, to count as nothing.
This universal depreciation of others is the monomania of egotism.

5. 2. What were the titles of the two men who went to pray? Luke 18:10
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.

6. The one a Pharisee, and the other a publican
The Pharisee, law-keeper, with his broad blue fringe robe.
The publican, tax collector, in his common working dress.
Both were men that prayed and fasted.

7. 3. Was the Pharisee’s prayer filled with selfish ambition
3. Was the Pharisee’s prayer filled with selfish ambition? [yes] [no] Luke 18:11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

8. But this Pharisee …
Speaks this in the pride of his heart, in the justification of himself. 
He stood at a distance from the Publican, lest he should be polluted by him.
3. He prayed only with respect to himself, and himself was the subject of his prayer. So every word he said was in praise to himself.

9. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
4. Are fasting and tithing enough for the Kingdom of God? [yes] [no] Luke 18:12
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

10. I fast twice in the week and tithe all
Not "on the sabbath", it was a feasting day with the Jews; for they were obliged to eat three meals, or feasts.
I give tithes of ALL that I possess, was bragging as doing more than the poor.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart ... love thy neighbor as thyself." 

11. 5. Why did the tax collector ask God to be merciful to him? Luke 18:13
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

12. Be merciful to me
The words point to a sense of shame from a remote corner of the temple.
God be merciful literally, to me the sinner. Read 1 Timothy 1:15-16.
The Publican lifted up his heart to God in holy desires through humiliation.
There is an expression of repentance.

13. 6. Why did Jesus say the tax collector’s prayer was justified
6. Why did Jesus say the tax collector’s prayer was justified? Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

14. Our Lord Jesus, from whom no secret is hid
The self-righteous Pharisee goes away rejected.
The spiritual life has higher regions than the outward life.
Psalm 34:18 " The LORD is near unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

15. 7. Whose hand are we to make ourselves humble? 1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

16. Under the Mighty Hand of God
Humility preserves peace and order; pride is disturbing.
To be humble will bring comfort to the soul.
Be willing to take a low place.
The remedy is to cast our worries upon God, for He calms the spirit of people.

17. Submit to mighty hand of God
Submit to him with a calm mind, that he may exalt you in due time, when he shall see it to be a proper time, in a time that makes most for his glory, and their good.
For humble souls honor God, and therefore he will honor them.

18. Read James 4:6 and Psalms 138:6

19. 8. How did the disciples react when mothers brought their babies to Jesus? Luke 18:15
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

20. the parents brought their children to Jesus
Christ has in store for them blessings.
The parental intrusive move provoked the disciples’ rebuke for their own importance.
Some were ‘babes’ and had to be brought, being too young to walk.

21. 9. What did Jesus compare the little children to? Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Allow little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

22. Clinging trust is the child’s life.
This is a picture of the trust which the children of the kingdom must have.
Instead of the children first becoming like them, they must themselves become like the children.
He took the opportunity of lowering their pride of reason.

23. 10. Why is it important the we receive the kingdom of God as a little child? Luke 18:17
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

24. The Kingdom
This two-part parable is in response to the Pharisee and publican, and disciples.
To enter the kingdom of God require attitudes of child-like trust and humility.
Child-like innocence do not expect payment for kindness shown to others.

25. The Pharisee and The Tax Collector https://www. youtube. com/watch

26. REVIEW 1. Who did Jesus speak this parable to?
2. What were the titles of the two men who went to pray?
3. Was the Pharisee’s prayer filled with selfish ambition? [yes] [no]

27. REVIEW
4. Are fasting and tithing enough for the Kingdom of God? [yes] [no]
5. Why did the tax collector ask God to be merciful to him?
6. Why did Jesus say the tax collector’s prayer was justified?
7. Whose hand are we to make ourselves humble?

28. REVIEW
8. How did the disciples react when mothers brought their babies to Jesus?
9. What did Jesus compare the little children to?
10. Why is it important the we receive the kingdom of God as a little child?

29. What is the Good News in this lesson?