This Week

The coming reign of God will involve unexpected reversals of fortune with judgment rooted in mercy. Jesus tells a parable in which the one who humbles himself is exalted and the one who exalts his own righteousness

is humbled.

Pastor Jim

9  [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others

with contempt: 10  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  11  The

Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves,

rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  12  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’  13  But the

tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying,

‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’  14  I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other,

for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”