Sermon - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector | Ian Morrison

Sermon Series: Stories Jesus Told
Sermon Title: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Bible Passage: Luke 18:9-14
Preacher: Ian Morrison
Date: 26th January 2025, 9:30 am

As we continue our Stories Jesus Told series, Ian Morrison will lead us through the parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector from Luke 18:9-14. In this striking story, Jesus paints a vivid contrast between two men who approach God in prayer—one full of pride and self-righteousness, the other broken and repentant.

This parable calls us to examine our hearts. Are we trusting in our own moral efforts and religious performance, or are we humbly depending on God's mercy? The Pharisee’s self-congratulation reveals the emptiness of self-righteousness, while the tax collector’s plea, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," models the posture of true faith.

At its core, this passage reveals the gospel: We cannot earn God’s acceptance through our own goodness. Instead, it is only through the mercy of God, poured out in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that we are made right with Him. Like the tax collector, we come to God with nothing to offer but our need, and by His grace, He justifies us, clothing us in Christ’s righteousness.

This is a message of hope and freedom for all who feel the weight of sin or the futility of trying to measure up. Come and hear how the gospel invites us to lay down our pride, rest in God’s mercy, and rejoice in the gift of His grace. Let this powerful parable draw you closer to the heart of our Savior!