Luke 18:1–14
This story is to inspire people to always pray:
“There was a judge who didn’t fear God or respect people. He refused to be fair to a widow. But she came back to him again and again. ‘By law, you must be fair in this matter,’ she said.
Finally, the judge said, ‘I don’t respect anyone. But this widow’s a bother. So I’ll be fair in her case. Her demands will soon wear me out.’
“Pay attention to what this unfair judge said. Now, don’t you think God will be fair when you pray? Will he wait? No. He’ll act quickly. Yet when I return, will I find people praying in faith?”
Then he told another story. It’s for people who think they’re pure and look down on others:
“A Pharisee and a tax collector were praying. The Pharisee stood and prayed: ‘Thank you I’m not like that tax collector. I always perform my religious duty.’ Far away, the tax collector wouldn’t even look up to heaven. In grief, he prayed: ‘Have mercy on me. I’m a sinner.’
“Listen, God accepted him, not the Pharisee. Praise yourself and you’ll be humbled. Humble yourself and you’ll be honored.”
Questions: What does Jesus want to find when he returns? What will happen if you praise yourself?