Luke 18:9-14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
This parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector should be especially comforting to those of us who identify with the sinner. For we can identify with the man who "would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" (verse 13). This is in contrast to the Pharisee who was proud of his righteousness (verses 11-12). The point is not to be glad we sin, but to recognize our need for mercy. The truth is that both the Pharisee and the tax collector are sinners. The difference was in their willingness to admit their sin. If we won't admit our sin, God can't heal our sin. If we don't need a Savior, we won't get a Savior. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (verse 14). So let us humble ourselves and admit our weaknesses and failings, in the hope that God is His great mercy will restore and lift us up to the heavenly places.
Lord, thank you for Your great mercy.
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
This parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector should be especially comforting to those of us who identify with the sinner. For we can identify with the man who "would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" (verse 13). This is in contrast to the Pharisee who was proud of his righteousness (verses 11-12). The point is not to be glad we sin, but to recognize our need for mercy. The truth is that both the Pharisee and the tax collector are sinners. The difference was in their willingness to admit their sin. If we won't admit our sin, God can't heal our sin. If we don't need a Savior, we won't get a Savior. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (verse 14). So let us humble ourselves and admit our weaknesses and failings, in the hope that God is His great mercy will restore and lift us up to the heavenly places.
Lord, thank you for Your great mercy.