I don’t think that anyone enjoys being around someone with an air of superiority, someone who thinks that they are so much better than others. And what’s even worse than an ordinary pompous person, is one who is “religious” on top of it! Many churches have their share of self-righteous people. They are very unpleasant to be around. Even God doesn’t like that type of behavior and attitude. In our Gospel reading this week, Jesus teaches us a very important lesson, one that we can all learn from.
As our Scripture begins, Jesus told His audience another short parable. Here He wanted to teach us a lesson about the spiritual danger of self-righteousness and thinking that oneself is better than others (vs. 9). This parable is a rebuke to spiritual pride, along with a call to having genuine humility before God. As Jesus would have looked around at the crowd He would have seen many who were self-righteous, especially in the Pharisees, who were filled with false confidence in their own morality and religious performances.
Jesus proceeded to describe two men who went to the Temple to pray (vs. 10). Perhaps He had seen two exactly like them during one of His many visits to the Temple. One of these men was a Pharisee, a very respected member of a Jewish sect who strictly observed the Old Testament Law, along with all of the religious traditions. The other man was a tax collector. Just like today, no one particularly cares for tax collectors. However at that time they were especially hated by the Jewish people because they were looked on as collaborators with the hated Roman Empire, and a vast majority of them were also cheats.
As these two men entered the Temple there was a marked difference in their attitude and in their prayer (vs. 11-13). The Pharisee stood front and center and prayed to himself, thanking God that he was so much better than other people, listing off several sins that he felt he had never done, and then even telling God how much better a man he was than that tax collector behind him. His prayer was very self-centered as he boasted of all of his works, and comparing himself with others. The Pharisee did not come to pray to God. He came to talk about himself. He did not once thank God for His mercy, grace, or forgiveness.
On the other hand, the tax collector humbly stood in the back, and kept his eyes down in prayer (vs. 13). He knew his place before God. Quietly in prayer to God, he smote his breast, acknowledging his sinfulness, and pleaded for God’s mercy. The tax collector was sorry for his sins. He had a heart of repentance. Salvation begins with brokenness over sin, and a cry for God’s mercy, which is a posture that God will honor.
After a few minutes both men left the Temple, returning to their respective homes (vs. 14). However, as Jesus specifically pointed out, they did not leave in the same condition. Jesus told us that the tax collector returned justified. His prayer was accepted by God. He received forgiveness and God’s grace. The Pharisee did not. The Pharisee thought that by pointing out all of his good works and behavior he would impress God and receive His blessing. He impressed himself, and many of the general population thought highly of the Pharisees. However it did not impress God. The tax collector’s humility and brokenness over his sins, his cries for God’s mercy reached His ears, and he was the one to receive God’s blessing.
The Bible clearly teaches us that it is not by our works that we receive salvation. Many people falsely believe that all of their good works will earn them a spot in heaven, just like this Pharisee did. However the Bible teaches us that we are justified by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:24). God resists the proud, which unfortunately was the Pharisees attitude, but instead He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). True righteousness is imputed to us through Jesus. It is not earned by us.
Let us learn from the example of the two men who came into the Temple to pray. Their attitude in the Temple made a big difference in their spiritual condition when they each left. The Pharisee went home just the same as when he came - unrepentant and full of himself. The tax collector went home forgiven by the Lord Jesus. Let our attitude be that of this last man.
No comments:
Post a Comment