Luke 18:9-10

"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector."
 
JUDGMENT

I pray, Father, that my brother repent
His knowledge is so primitive in comparison to mine
His capacity to understand your will is deficient
Please help him to come to see and mimic my faith so fine.

I love my brother even though he is so much less than I
I desire to teach him to be just like me
Why isn't he able to comprehend? Oh, why?
Open his eyes so that like me he can clearly see.
 
Proud figure

Luke 18:11-12

"The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "

 
 
JUSTIFICATION

Though you, O God, inhabit eternity
Though you embody all wisdom and knowledge
Though you own all in heaven and earth
Though you are pure, just, and good

Though you see our weak, decaying flesh
Though you hear our foolish thoughts
Though you feel our cruel and thoughtless deeds
Though you taste our bitter, lukewarm religion

Yet, you pity us and grieve for us
In your great love for us you laid down your life
You extend your arms to welcome us in warm embrace
You replace our stained garments with your own.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Humble figure

Luke 18:13

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "

 
 
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:14

 
Poems Judgment and Justification by Scarlett Stough.

 
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