In this teaching session, we're going to Luke 18:9. After you've taught the first part of the lesson from Romans 5:17 say: "Let's turn to Luke 18:9 and, John, would you read that aloud?"

"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others."

"Now, John, do you know what a parable is?"

"Well, I think it's some kind of story or something, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right. A parable is a story, and Jesus used these stories to illustrate spiritual truths. Now, if you notice in the verse you just read out loud, He spoke this parable to whom? To whom was He aiming this story?"

"Well, to certain who trusted in themselves."

"That's right, John! To those who trusted in themselves. They trusted in themselves that they were what? What do the next few words say?"

"Well, it says those which trusted in themselves that they were righteous."

"You're right, John! They trusted in themselves that they were righteous. What kind of person would you call someone who trusts in himself that he's righteous? You know, 'Don't touch me, I'm righteous. I'm so holy, I do all these things.' What kind of person would you call one who trusts in himself?"

"Well, they'd be self-righteous."

"Yes, John, they're self-righteous! Jesus is telling a story, a parable, to people who trust in them- selves that they're righteous. In other words, they're self-righteous people. Now, John, I want to ask you this question. Those who trust in themselves that they're righteous, self-righteous people, always have an attitude towards other people. According to this verse, what kind of attitude do self-righteous people have towards others? Look right in the verse."

"He spoke to certain people that trusted themselves that they were righteous and despised others."

"That's right, John! They despise others. They look down on others, 'I am better than you, don't touch me, I'm so holy!' They despise and look down on others. Jesus is telling a story to this kind of self-righteous people. Let's go to verse 10, and would you read it aloud, please?"

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican."

"John, two people went to do what?" "Well, they went to pray."

"That's right, they went to pray, and where did they go to pray?" "It says the temple."

"Okay, John, if we were using modern day language, where did they go?" "Well, they went to the church."

"That's right! They went to the church, John! Two people went to the church to pray, and who were these two people? Would you look at that verse?"

"One was a Pharisee, the other a publican."

"Right! A Pharisee! Do you know what a Pharisee is?" "Man, I don't know, it's just a common person."

"No, John. A Pharisee is a religious person. The word means a separated one, somebody that is very religious, and you see from what Jesus said in verse nine how he despised others, looked down on them, thought he was better than everyone else. He was a Pharisee, a separated one. 'I'm not like other people.' Very, very religious, John. Now what was the other person?

"He was a publican."

"Do you know what a publican is?" "No, I..."

"John, a publican was a tax collector. I just want to ask you how you feel about the IRS?" Most people don't have a really good opinion of the IRS, but in Jesus' day tax collectors were looked down upon more than the IRS is today. The Roman government had authority over Israel, and tax collectors were usually Jews. They were taking as much as they could from the people, cheating and defrauding through all kinds of ungodly, wicked means and pressure. They would give some of the money to the Roman government and stick the rest in their pockets. They were very wicked, evil people, these tax collectors."

We're going to stop now. Notice the questions I asked in this particular part of the teaching, because I'm going to ask you to teach them back. This is what I want you to do: In Luke 18:9‑10, mark your Bible. Underline the words "parable" and "despise" and the phrase "trusted in themselves, that they were righteous" in verse 9. Then underline the words "pray" and "temple" and underline or circle the words "Pharisee" and "publican" in verse 10. After you become familiar with this lesson, all you will have to do is look at your Bible and it will be the outline. You'll look at the word "parable" and think, "Oh, I need to ask them what a parable is. You'll see the words "trusted in themselves" and remember to ask, "Who is Jesus directing this parable to?" You'll see the word "despise" and ask "What is the attitude of those who are self-righteous, who despise others."

The Bible itself is becoming your outline. In verse 10 the word "pray" will generate the questions, "What do they go to the temple to do? In modern language what would you say for the word "temple"? Do you know what a Pharisee is? Do you know what a publican is?" Those are all underlined, and will be keys in your Bible of what to ask.

Now I want you to take your Additional Information, "Salvation by Grace" by Don Krow. Start with Luke 18:9‑10 and study those questions. Then turn to your trainer and actually teach this part of the lesson back to the trainer. If you don't have a trainer, then teach it to a friend. Go over the material until you are familiar with it.