“And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard”(Gen. 4:1-15). For unlike Abel, Cain’s offering did not proceed from a heart that revered and trusted in the Lord. Thus, the lowly tax collector who prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” was the one who went down to his house justified before God, not the respectable, outwardly righteous Pharisee who trusted in himself and his own living (Luke 18:9-14). “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so tht no one may boast” (Eph 2:1-10). Pastor Todd Peperkorn