The Great Sin

Series: Beware of the Little Things

9/1/13
Jesus told a story of 2 men who went to church (the temple). One was a highly respected Pharisee, a spiritual leader, and the other a despised tax collector. As Jesus introduces the characters, the people probably expected the Pharisee to the be the hero and the tax collector the villain. But Jesus shocks them with the outcome, when He declares that the tax collector is the one who is justified in God’s eyes. Then He states the spiritual principle: v14b “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus warns of the danger of pride.

Pride is extremely dangerous because of how deceptive it is, and the people who are proudest are the least likely to admit that they are proud. CS Lewis, called pride “the Great Sin,” "the worst of all vices" because, "it comes direct from Hell." It creeps into our religious life by the devil himself. He wants us to be secure in our own selves,” self-sufficient, rather than relying upon God.

As we look at the story Jesus told, it reveals several important truths about pride.