To Love With All Your Heart...Continued from page 2

Fran Sciacca

 

 

3. Sinner is a pungent word, meaning “devoted to sin.” Do you think the tax collector was ashamed of what he had done, or of who he was? Explain.

 

 

 

4. a. In contrast, which was the source of the Pharisee’s pride: who he was, or what he had done and not done? (Look closely!)

 

 

b. Which words stand out in his prayer?

 

 

 

5. a. Carefully read Job 25:4 and Romans 3:9-10, 20. According to these verses, is man’s most basic problem with God something he has done or not done, or who he is as a human being? Explain your answer.

 

 

 

b. Why do you think this distinction is so important?

 

 

 

c. Read Romans 3:5,10,20. How does God summarize our problem?



6. Consider the phrase righteous acts as the very best offering of our hearts we can give to God as human beings. What does God say about these righteous acts in Isaiah 64:6?

 

(Note: The Hebrew words translated “filthy rags” in this verse are used elsewhere in the Old Testament to refer to a used menstrual cloth. This graphic imagery revealed to Isaiah’s readers how ceremonially “unclean”?and thus offensive? their best deeds were in comparison to God’s standard of righteousness.)