The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

The point: Honestly ask yourself, when the portrait turns into a mirror, in which portrait do I see myself reflected?

The sermon's approach to the passage is likened to entering a portrait gallery, with Jesus as the guide, to observe and analyze the two men.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess, but the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but beat upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. I say unto you, This man went down, to his house justified, rather than the other, for every one that exalts himself shall be humbled, but he that humbles himself shall be exalted. As we set this portion of the word of God before us this evening, I want us to think of our approach to this passage as though we were about to enter a portrait gallery together this evening. That i...

1:30 - 2:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Honestly ask yourself, when the portrait turns into a mirror, in which portrait do I see myself reflected?

The portraits painted by Jesus not only depict others but also function as mirrors, reflecting the listener's own spiritual condition.

who is going to be our guide in order to point out the things that each one of us ought to observe concerning the portraits within this gallery. It is the Lord Jesus, who Himself has painted the portraits, and He will interpret the significance of His own painting. However, these portraits are of a most unusual kind, for they not only give us an accurate picture of those whom they represent, but they also function as mirrors. It is impossible to stand by them and to look upon them and to listen to the Lord Jesus as He points out the various features in the portraits, without at the same time f...

2:52 - 4:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Honestly ask yourself, when the portrait turns into a mirror, in which portrait do I see myself reflected?

Contrasts the perfect reflection of the spiritual 'mirrors' with the distorted reflections of trick mirrors in a funhouse, emphasizing the accuracy of self-perception in the parable.

but they become mirrors in which we see our very selves. And unlike the trick mirrors in a funhouse, some of you kids perhaps have been in a funhouse, an entertainment museum, an amusement park, where you go in and they have these different shaped mirrors, and into some of them, when you place yourself before them, you are seen as about ten feet wide and a foot and a half tall. In others, you may see yourself ten feet tall and six inches wide. Trick mirrors that, though they reflect something that looks something like you, you know it is not really you.

4:21 - 5:03 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second radical difference is their self-perception. The Pharisee is filled with self-esteem and self-congratulation, oblivious to his wretchedness, whereas the Tax Collector…

A humorous childhood ditty about self-love is used to illustrate the Pharisee's self-esteem and self-congratulation, highlighting its seriousness in God's presence.

When I was a kid you children listen to this little song we used to sing. I love myself. I think I'm grand. I go to the movie just to hold my hand.

27:57 - 28:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by challenging listeners to face the reality of their spiritual state, urging unbelievers to humble themselves and flee to Christ for salvation, and encouraging…

Martin recounts an encounter with Jehovah's Witnesses who recoiled from biblical descriptions of human vileness, illustrating how people resist the humbling truth of their sinfulness.

which will it be humble yourself now and be exalted with all of the glory of gospel privileges and standing stand upon your dignity I don't like the language vile false full of sin no I haven't done everything perfectly I am willing to admit I am a sinner but dead I stand upon your dignity and perish for he that exalts himself shall be humble I close with a simple honest true anecdote some years ago two Jehovah's Witnesses showed up at our front door and I had begun to learn that if you were going to have any hope of reaching them with the truth you had to get them derailed from their speech a...

62:02 - 63:31 Read in full sermon