Two Men in the Temple Praying - Luke 18:10

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus, “spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others”, and in chapter eighteen and verse ten of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said, “two men went up into the temple to pray” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “Two men went up into the temple to pray;” Luke began with the words, “two men went up” or “two male human beings arose and ascended” “into the temple” which means “into the sacred place” “to pray” or “to offer prayers, supplicate and make orations to God”. Luke shared how Jesus spoke about “two men” who “ascended” to the “sacred place of worship” to “make orations and offer prayers” to God.

The verse goes on to say, “the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.” Luke continued with the words, “the one a Pharisee” or “the one man was a Pharisee which was a man who belonged to a sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”, “and the other a publican” which means “and the other man was a tax gatherer, collector of taxes or tolls and one who was employed in the collection of taxes”. Luke shared how Jesus said one of the men who ascended into the “sacred place to pray” was a “religious leader” known as a “Pharisee”, and the other man was a “tax collector”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about Jesus' “parable” as He spoke of “two men” who went to the “sacred place” to “pray to God”. Jesus identified these “two men” as “a Pharisee” and a “publican” who could not have been more different from one another. “Pharisees” were respected and honored among people, and “tax collectors” were despised. God wants all people to come and worship Him, and when they receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they have access to Him regardless of their background or social position among people. Let all who read these words go to the “sacred place” to “pray”, and may they humble themselves before God who desires to have a relationship with them all.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “the Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".