Introduction: When my wife and I were first married, she taught in a church school. Her work allowed me to be a full-time law school student. 
The chairman of the school board invited us to his home for dinner, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn more about him. My initial reaction was not positive. He expressed opinions on everything. Not just an opinion, but that his opinion was correct. I thought, “How can he be so full of himself and so wrong on so many things?” Then it occurred to me that the reason I resented his many opinions is that they disagreed with my many opinions! His pride was matched by my pride! And, really, what did I know? I was just a young man at the beginning of my adult life. Are we all guilty of pride? Let’s dive into our study of the Bible and see what we can learn to avoid being proud!
I. The Successful Versus the Despised
A. Read Luke 18:9-10. Before we get into anything that is said by these two men, tell me how their society would view them? (The Pharisee is an important religious leader. The tax collector is viewed as a traitor to his country, and likely dishonest.)
B. Read Luke 18:11-12. What reason do you have to think this Pharisee is not viewing the situation correctly?
- Pharisees have a bad name among Bible students based on their interaction with Jesus. Did you know that they were laymen, and not priests? They were very serious about their faith and they taught the Bible to others. Isn’t it obvious that they were superior to extortioners, the unjust, adulterers, and tax collectors?
a. When this Pharisee thanked God that he was not a tax collector, would those around him agree?
C. Read Luke 18:13. Should we believe the tax collector when he says that he is a sinner?
- The text tells us that he was “standing far off.” How is it possible that the Pharisee has even seen him? The Pharisee, we are told in verse 11, was “standing by himself.” (This suggests that either before or during his prayer the Pharisee was looking around at everyone else.)
- How would you describe the attitude of the tax collector?
D. Read Luke 18:14. Does Jesus say that He disagrees with the assessment that each of these men had of themselves? (No. He does not dispute the truth of their statements.)
- What does Jesus say is the difference in the immediate outcome between the two men? (Jesus says that the tax collector went home “justified.”)
a. Did the Pharisee ask to be justified? Did he confess any sins? (He did not. He was not apologizing for anything. He was not confessing anything.)
E. Look again at Luke 18:14. What is the difference in the long-term outcomes for these two men? (The Pharisee will be humbled and the tax collector exalted.)
- How do you explain that? The Pharisee will still be an active layman working to promote religion. The tax collector will still be a person the public thinks is detestable. (In our first lesson in this series we studied the message to the Church of Laodicea. We concluded (I hope) that the problem with the members of that church is that they believed they were saved by their good works. They did not believe in righteousness by faith alone.)
- What does the failure of the Pharisee to confess his sins and the practice of the tax collector to seriously confess his sins mean for their futures? (One will be accepted by God (justified) and one will not.)
- This lesson is about pride. What important spiritual lesson do we find in this story about pride? (Proud people do not confess their sins. They don’t think they have sins. They only have commendable deeds.)
a. Do you think that it was objectively true that the Pharisee was a better person than the tax collector? Or at least better than extortioners, adulterers, or the unjust?
F. Read 1 Peter 5:5-6. Why would God oppose the proud? (They have a hard time learning God’s will and following it.)
- Didn’t the Pharisee say that he paid tithes?
- Is humility our end goal? If you say, “Yes,” then how do you explain that Peter tells us that the end result of humility is exaltation? (A person can be exalted and still humble.)
II. The Greatest
A. Read Luke 22:24. If you look at the prior chapter, you will see that Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him. This text tells us that in addition to trying to figure out who would betray Jesus, the disciples also wanted to determine who was the greatest among them. What do you think was their attitude as the disciples sorted out both questions?
- Do you think the disciples are having a positive discussion? (Luke 22:23 says that they “questioned” each other to determine who would betray Jesus, and in verse 24 they “disputed” with each other about who was the greatest. It sounds acrimonious to me!)
B. If you were reading this story in the order presented, you would next read Luke 22:25-26. Instead, I want you to read Luke 22:29-30. How would you react to this statement? (It is part of Jesus’ response, but it totally changes what I assume is their reaction to verses 25-26. They find that they will have a kingdom, each sit on a throne, and eat and drink at Jesus’ table in His kingdom.)
- Would you need to be the greatest if you knew you would have your own kingdom?
C. Now read Luke 22:25-26. What, exactly, is in dispute? That the disciples deserve to have kingdoms, or the path to becoming a king? (Jesus tells them that He has a kingdom, but that He serves others. The path to becoming a king, and the proper duties of a king, are things the disciples need to learn.)
- Do you also need to learn this?
D. Is it okay to desire to become a king and to have a kingdom? (The answer seems to be, “Yes, you can have that desire. But when you are reaching for your kingdom, and after you obtain your kingdom, you must serve others.”)
- Does this answer redefine the definition of pride? (The rule against pride is not a rule against being important. It is a rule against seeking importance so that you can tell other people what to do.)
III. The World
A. Read 1 John 2:15-16. John is writing to Christians. What do you think John means when he says “world?” (John defines it as the “desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life.”)
- Does that mean that I should not like eating, looking at beautiful people, and feeling positive about myself? (I hope not. John writes that these bad things are “not from the Father.” In fact, great food, beautiful people, and having a kingdom (as we just learned) are from God.)
- So, what does this mean?
- Is loving the world and loving God mutually exclusive?
B. Read Matthew 6:25 and Matthew 6:32-33. When John tells us not to “love” beautiful things and beautiful people, I think he means do not make them your first priority. Make serving God your first priority and these things will come.
- Consider what Jesus said to His disciples about not setting a goal to be the greatest. Did Jesus end up promising them what they desired? (He did tell them they would have kingdoms. The important question is how you acquire them.)
C. Friend, pride is thinking that you are entitled to be served by others. Even poor people can be infected with that attitude. Instead, what God wants is for you to realize your need of Him. He wants you to put first your relationship with God, and not a desire to be better than others. Success and excellence are a proper goal, but you pursue those goals by pursuing the Kingdom of God. Will you ask the Holy Spirit to help you with this proper attitude? Why not ask right now?
IV. Next week: The Role of the Bible.
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
