The Pharisees Prayer

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The Pharisees Prayer

• Prayer

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The Prayer
Then Jesus told this story to some who had great
confidence in their own righteousness and scorned
everyone else 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 am not a sinner like everyone else.
For I dont cheat, I dont sin, and I dont
commit adultery. Im 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. 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. Luke 189-14
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Measuring Stick
For I tell you that unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers
of the law, you will certainly not enter the
kingdom of heaven Matthew 520
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Fallen Short
  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God Romans 323
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Are we any better?
What shall we conclude then? Are we any better?
Not at all! We have already made the charge that
Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it
is written    "There is no one righteous, not
even one     there is no one who understands,
      no one who seeks God. Romans 39-11
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Mercy
he saved us, not because of righteous things we
had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us
through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit, Titus 35
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Its an upset!
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the
tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering
the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to
you to show you the way of righteousness, and you
did not believe him, but the tax collectors and
the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this,
you did not repent and believe him. Matthew 2132
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Mercy through Christ
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so
that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus
might display his unlimited patience as an
example for those who would believe on him and
receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 116