Luke 18:9

Luke 18:9 says, And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  Jesus next spoke in a another parable, this one about a self-righteous man who despised others, because he felt morally superior to them.  There are still some people today who profess to be Christians who feel the same way.  Verse ten adds, Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  Jesus said a Pharisee and a publican went up to the temple to pray.  This would be a good thing to do, just as going to the church to pray is a good thing today.  Verse eleven states, The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  Verse twelve adds, I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  Jesus said the Pharisee the Pharisee prayed with himself, telling how he was better than other men.  He was filled with self-righteousness and was speaking to himself instead of to God.  We need to make sure that we avoid having that same self-righteous attitude today when we pray.  Verse thirteen says, And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  Jesus said that the publican when he prayed addressed his prayer to God in humility and wouldn't even look up as he professed his sins as asked for God to have mercy on him.  We need to never forget that when we pray to God that we are still sinners in need of His mercy.  We should never pray simply to express our moral superiority to others.   Verse fourteen continues, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.  Jesus said the publican, and not the Pharisee, went down to his house justified before God.  He also warned us about exalting ourselves instead of exalting God.  Verse fifteen states, And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.  People brought infants to Jesus, and the disciples rebuked them.  There is no better place for us to bring our infants than to Jesus, and this includes when we gather together to worship Him.  Verse sixteen adds, But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Jesus called the disciples to Himself and told them not to prevent the little children from coming to Him, for of such was the kingdom of God.  We must come to God with a childlike faith, especially when we come to Jesus for salvation.  Verse seventeen continues, Verily I say unto ye, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.  As just stated, Jesus said unless we come to Him with a childlike faith we will not enter into the kingdom of God.  We must come to Jesus acknowledging our own weakness and inability to help ourselves find salvation on our own.