This past Sunday, Pastor Merrie Eizenga shared a message titled "You Choose" from Luke 18:9–14, comparing the self-righteous prayer of a Pharisee with the heartfelt plea for mercy from a tax collector. Drawing from scripture and commentary, she highlighted how the Pharisee magnified his own goodness while the tax collector magnified his brokenness. We were reminded that God measures righteousness by humility and repentance, not moral performance, and that “those who humble themselves will be exalted.” The challenge was clear—choose humility, choose relationship, and choose gratitude as we walk with Christ.

✍️ Notes

“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else.” Luke 18:9 NLT . “He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people.” MSG
 
“Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer. “I thank you God, that I’m not a sinner like everyone else, for I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector. I fast twice a week and I give you a tenth of my income. But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God be merciful to me, for I am a sinner." Luke 18:10-13 NLT 

“I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Verse 14 NLT

"Pharisees genuinely try to uphold the Torah in a world where Roman power and Samaritan neighbors tempt people to compromise. Pharisees genuinely try to please God. Tax collectors, on the other hand, collaborate with Romans and steal from Jews. Jesus’ listeners must be shocked at the Great Reversal as this parable unfolds." Richard Neill Donovan   

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer. “I thank you God, that I’m not a sinner like everyone else, for I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector. I fast twice a week and I give you a tenth of my income. Verse 11-12 NLT

But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God be merciful to me, for I am a sinner. Verse 13 NLT

"The tax collector, like the Pharisee, stands by himself, but his reason is different. The Pharisee feels too good to associate with common people, but the tax collector feels too bad." Richard Donovan

“The tax collector did not boast of his own righteousness but pled with God for mercy acknowledging his sin. He used God as the standard of righteousness and confessed that he fell short. The Pharisee magnifies his goodness while the tax collector magnifies his brokenness.” Tom Constable

"First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall." Proverbs 16:18 MSG

"Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked, are just plain sin." Proverbs 21:4 MSG

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." James 4:6 NLT

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 NLT

⭑ Choose Humble
⭑ Choose Relationship
⭑ Choose Gratitude

"The Holy Spirit will always cooperate to the full limit with anyone who comes to hate his pride and love the humility of Christ." Oswald Sanders

🔗 STAY CONNECTED
Take your NEXT STEP: fill out a short form that’ll help us get the conversation started: https://www.fa.church/nextsteps
First Assembly | @fa.church @fa.seton
https://www.fa.church
  / fa.church