The journey culminating in becoming a servant in the Kingdom of God led by Jesus Christ begins with many being called to a narrow gate which opens to a long and difficult road ahead. The many at the gate end up becoming a chosen few. Some arrive at the gate but don’t open it. Tribulations or tests in life occur to everybody and these can be God’s way of getting us to the gate. Some arrive at the gate searching for answers in God’s word, open the gate and travel the long road but fall off along the way or reach a cross road choosing to return to the wrong path of life. A few open the gate carrying their cross taking a journey overcoming more trials, tribulations and deceptions with repentance, forgiveness, love and diligence learning to worship God in Spirit and Truth. They will end up being the chosen, the elite and humble servants in the Kingdom desperately needed and appreciated by Jesus Christ. It is a very difficult road for all of us to travel.
.
The post modern world is very much a world in a hurry. The Iphone, Blackberries, Personal Computers, Laptops and other electronic devices provide us plenty of opportunities to participate in the sinful nature of the world at anytime and any place. Modern travel allows travelers to inexpensively and quickly visit sinful places like Las Vegas. Casinos and other gambling establishments are popping up in cities across America offering us games of chance. These are very much an exercise of “me” against the odds designed to bleed us of our money which God has blessed us with. Media marketing subjects us to temptation by selling and advertising products in a way that appeals to our carnal nature. We live in a time of greed and covetousness or as Queen would sing “I Want It All and I Want It Now”;

I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now

Adventure seeker on an empty street
Just an alley creeper light on his feet
A young fighter screaming with no time for doubt
With the pain and anger cant see a way out
It ain’t much I’m asking I heard him say
Gotta find me a future move out of my way

I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now
I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now

Listen all you people come gather round
I gotta get me a game plan gotta shake you to the ground
Just give me what I know is mine
People do you hear me just give me the sign
It ain’t much I’m asking if you want the truth
Here’s to the future for the dreams of youth
I want it all (give it all) I want it all I want it all and
I want It now
I want it all (yes I want it all) I want it all (hey)
I want it all and I want it now

I’m a man with a one track mind
So much to do in one life time (people do you hear me)
Not a man for compromise and where’s and whys and living
Lies
So I’m living it all (yes I’m living it all)
And I’m giving it all (and I’m giving it all)

Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
I want it all all all all

It ain’t much I’m asking if you want the truth
Here’s to the future
Hear the cry of youth (hear the cry hear the cry of youth)
I want it all I want it all I want it all and I want it now
I want it all (yeah yeah yeah) I want it all I want it all and
I Want it now

I want it Now
I want it I want it

A powerful song where the singer references “I” or “I’m” over 40 times in less than 4 ½ minutes roughly averaging an “I” every 7 seconds. There is no “We” in the song and there is a total absence of humility. We would be hard pressed to find a song with more “I”s in it than this one but a few may exist. The tone and self idolatry in this song sets the stage for the “I’m More Set-Apart Than Thou Parable” more commonly referred to as The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Let us review the parable from the Book of Luke;
.

Luk 18:9-14 And He also spoke this parable to some who relied on themselves that they were righteous, and looking down on others: 10 “Two men went up to the Set-apart Place to pray – the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee stood and began to pray with himself this way, ‘Elohim, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men, swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 “But the tax collector standing at a distance would not even raise his eyes to the heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘Elohim, show favor unto me, a sinner!’ 14 “I say to you, this man went down to his house declared right, rather than the other. For everyone who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.”

.
Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
.
The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men–extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers–or even like this tax collector here.
.
I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain.
.
But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O Elohim, be favorable (be favorable, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am!
.
I tell you, this man went down to his home justified (forgiven and made upright and in right standing with Elohim), rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
.

.

.
Tax collectors earned their wages or commissions based upon how much money they could collect on behalf of the ruling Roman Government. The system of collecting taxes encouraged extortion where some and perhaps many tax collectors collected more taxes than were required from citizens. These tax collectors would keep the excess collected therefore those in the profession were perceived by the people as the scum of the earth. The Pharisees were a set of disciplinedYehudim practicing restrictive oral laws established by elders to ensure the Mosaic Law wasn’t broken.
.
One of the reasons Our Savior came into the world was to end strict Jewish traditions which made Elohim’s Law burdensome. The ministry of Yashanah Messiah was a continuous battle against the Pharisees ultimately leading to the impalement. The parable is a study contrasting the attitudes of two very different people. One who believes he is set-apart and justifies his own righteousness through his good works and judgment of others contrasted with one who slaps himself admitting he is an especially wicked man who needs favor and mercy from Elohim.  The Pharisees man is a study in self righteousness, idolatry of self and one who is quick to frown upon, look down upon and judge others.  The tax collector is a study in repentance and humility who feels he is too unworthy to look towards heaven. When we look at and study our lives which person are we? Are we in the company of the tax collector or do we walk hand in hand with the Pharisees man?
.
One way to study ourselves is to look at who we look down and frown upon. What is our reaction to the homeless on the streets who are begging for a handout? Do we pray for them or cross the street quickly to avoid them? Are we so sinful in nature that we look down upon those enforcing government law? How about people who have mental health challenges – Do we stigmatize them and call them crazy? Are we racists? Do we look down and frown upon others who do not practice the same religion we do? Do we judge others? Does our attitude towards drug addicts, alcoholics, illegal immigrants and pregnant teenagers include judgment, rejection and disgust? Do we get caught up in comparing our selves to others? Are we takers and not givers? There are a million or more ways to differentiate our selves from others and each way is probably a result of judgments we make in comparing our selves to them. Some people have abortions, some get AIDs, some are unemployed or on disability, some commit or attempt suicide and others get caught in sins falling into classes of people that the righteous ignore, condemn and/or persecute. To Elohim all of us sin no matter how righteous we think we are. In that respect every human being is equal having broken Elohim’s Laws and the teachings of Yashayahnah Messiah.
.
Every one of us is expected to repent and request mercy, forgiveness and favor from our Elohim. In the Pharisees case he tried to gain favor and justification from Elohim by taking credit for all his “good works” which Elohim expects him to do anyway and furthermore he deemed himself “More Set-Apart than thou” by comparing himself to people he thought Elohim should reject. We cannot gain deliverance by our own good works and deeds. We need to accept Yashanah Messiah as Our Savior and become righteous by obeying The Commandments and integrating all Her teachings into our lives. Should we do so good works and deeds will come naturally from our “Born Again” evolving character. The parable is designed to expose each of us who trust in ourselves and despise or persecute others. Isaiah gives us Elohim’s viewpoint on our “I am more set-apart than thou” attitude;
.
Isaiah 65:5 ** (New King James Version)
.
Who say, ‘Keep to yourself,
Do not come near me,
For I am more set-apart than you!’
These are smoke in My nostrils,
A fire that burns all the day.
.
The “More set-apart than thou” attitude results in fire and fire is symbolic of a nasty judgment from Elohim. The Book of Titus provides us guidance outlining what our Messianic characteristics need to be while at the same time sharing with us that deliverance only comes from Our Savior’s mercy and favor;
.
Titus 3:1-8 ** (New King James Version)
.
Favors of the Heirs of Favor
.
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,  to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.  For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of Elohim our Savior toward man appeared,  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to Her mercy She saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Set-Apart Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Yashayahnah Messiah our Savior, that having been justified by Her favor we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
.
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in Elohim should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
.
The above scriptures describe the attributes needed in our character and personality that are needed to worship Elohim in spirit and truth. Many of us naturally seek praise from others and many of us are quick to praise our selves. The praise we should seek is justification from Elohim. It is only Elohim who can justify us and declare us righteous. The impression we make to Elohim is all we should care about. If Elohim thinks we are righteous Elohim will reward us with blessings. If our true intent is to become righteous Elohim will work with us through the Set-Apart Spirit to guide us into making the right changes to our character.
.
In meditating on this parable we should learn that the Sovereigndom to come is going to consist of “We” servants led by Yashayahnah Messiah. We cannot be selected without taking the journey resulting in worshipping Elohim in Spirit and Truth. As “Born Again” Messianics we must help each other and others find their way. We must be quick to repent and humble ourselves before Elohim and we should be encouraged to pray for others especially those rejected by society. There is no righteous way to “Want it All”. The coming Sovereigndom will be about people united with Elohim in caring and sharing with each other. Those selected to the Sovereigndom will have “All that they need”. What we need most in life is true love and true love will abound in the Sovereigndom.
.
If we trust and/or revel in our own righteousness we are taking the “I am more set-apart than thou” Pharisees route which in all likelihood leads to a White Throne Judgment. In experiencing and gaining knowledge of our own sinfulness followed with repentance and seeking forgiveness from Elohim we can more easily relate to other sinners who have just as good a chance at becoming servants as we do. The coming Sovereigndom will be filled with repentant and humble servants.  The Sovereigndom will consist of repentant extortionists (robbers), swindlers, adulterers, tax collectors and others who were the very types of people the Pharisees compared himself too. There are many people in this world who think they are righteous and don’t know how to repent or forgive. Those who have sinned greatly or those persecuted by others have a great need for Elohim’s love and favor. As such we should not be surprised when they answer “Yes” to Yahshayahnah’s calling.
.
We are the children of the Sovereigndom of Earth!!!!!!