Even if it were true that we could get into heaven by having more good deeds than bad deeds,

none of us could possibly make it on that basis because our bad deeds far surpass our good deeds.

In fact, we've never done an authentic good deed in our lives.

Does that shock you?

The culture, even many in the church, say that deep down we're all pretty good people.

But scripture paints a different picture of the human condition, and to make that point,

today on this Tuesday edition of renewing your mind, R.C. Sprawl will zero in on one particular parable of Jesus, the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. Here's Dr. Spraw.

We're going to consider the parable this evening that's an exercise in contrast in which

Jesus is concerned with two men who are in prayer before God.

And the parable is called the parable of the Pharisee and the publican,

or sometimes the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Let me read it for you briefly.

Also, he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised

others. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you that I'm not like other men,

extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes

of all that I possess.

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven,

but beat his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

This is a very brief and, in fact, simple parable that Jesus gives, but we're told at the beginning

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