PHARISAICAL PRAYER


A. "THE PHARISEE STOOD AND PRAYED THUS WITH HIMSELF, GOD, I THINK THEE, THAT I AM NOT AS OTHER MEN ARE, EXTORTIONERS, UNJUST, ADULTERERS, OR EVEN AS THIS PUBLICAN. I FAST TWICE IN THE WEEK, I GIVE TITHES OF ALL THAT I POSSESS" - LUKE 18:11-12
  1. This is, as you realize a narrative by our Lord in which he contrasts the prayer of the Pharisee with that of the publican:
    1. Showing the attitude of the suppliants
    2. Thus warning us against Pharisaism
  2. This writer is impressed with the prayer of the Pharisee:
    1. As an object lesson to guard against
    2. Because the element of Pharisaism seems to be natural to the human inclinations
B. PHARISAICAL PRAYER
  1. Pharisaism - what is it?
    1. Pharisaism is that concept of religion which puts its emphasis on outward appearance in all it does - said the true witness, "all their works they do for to be seen of men" - Matt. 23:5
    2. Pharisaism employs some plausible principles to cover up hidden moral corruption. Said the Lord, whose eyes penetrate the hidden recesses of the heart, "Ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness' - Matt. 23:27
  2. Pharisaism is very dangerous to all of us:
    1. We are more or less born with it; Examples: Adam and Eve used Pharisaism as a cloak for their transgression - Gen. 3:8-13; Cain used his offering as a cloak for his hatred he had against his brother - Gen. 4:3-8; this has been the attitude of untold religionists in all ages
    2. It is marked by insincerity all the way - Examples: The Pharisees employed it continuously to trap and destroy the Son of God - compare John 8:1-11 with Matt. 22:15-22
    3. It is self-deception personified - while it aims to deceive others about its true nature, it deceives itself in the end, because God is against hypocrisy in all its forms.
C. PHARISAICAL PRAYER
  1. What is Pharisaical prayer?
    1. Prayer that employs laudable goodness to emphasize man's own worthiness; this is clearly the case of the prayer of the Pharisee in our opening text
    2. He thanked God which is proper, but his thankfulness to God lauded his own goodness, and not the goodness of the Lord
    3. He was thankful, because as he imagined he was not like other people
    4. He reminded the Lord of the noble things he did or did not - aims of such reminders was to emphasize his worthiness
  2. But there is a lesson in this pharisaical prayer:
    1. A divine warning against insincerity - Examples: The Pharisee that stands at the corners of the street to pray designs that the passing public will see and applaud his religious devotions - Matt. 6:5
    2. There is danger that we are, at times, tempted to use the occasion of prayer to advertise our devotion to prayer
    3. When prayer to God fails to open the heart to God and to seek his tender mercies for a better life, it is pharisaical
    4. When prayer places the emphasis upon the goodness of self, it is misguided, because all our righteousness is as filthy rags - Is. 64
    5. Pharisaism blinds one to the true nature of our condition, and thus deprives us to the help we need when we pray
    6. Pharisaical prayer deceives those who hear and applaud it, and also those who offer it
  3. We shall do well to search our own hearts:
    1. To know the true motive of our prayer
    2. To guard against Pharisaism at all times, lest we are guilty of religious hypocrisy
    3. We should include in our prayer the words of the Psalmist, "Lord search me and know me" - Ps. 139:23
    4. This is necessary, because the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it - Jer. 17:9


Design © John Bryant 2011