Luke 18:14 - Insights from the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
Luke 18:14 - Insights from the Parable of the Pharisee and the
Tax Collector.
Luke 18:14 (NLT) I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee,
returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will
be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Luke 18:9-14: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
Jesus identified the contrast between the Pharisee and the tax
collector as one between pride and humility, between those who exalt and
those who humble themselves. God will bring down the proud and will
exalt the humble. [Nelson SB]
The Pharisee goes up to the temple to worship, not because he
feels that he is a sinner in need of pardon, but because he thinks
himself righteous and hopes to win commendation. His worship he regards
as an act of merit that will recommend him to God. At the same time
it will give the people a high opinion of his piety. He hopes to
secure favor with both God and man. His worship is prompted by
self-interest.
And he is full of self-praise. He looks it, he walks it, he
prays it. Drawing apart from others as if to say, "Come not near to
me; for I am holier than thou" (Isa. 65:5), he stands and prays
"with himself." Wholly self-satisfied, he thinks that God and men
regard him with the same complacency.
"God, I thank thee," he says, "that I am not as other men
are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." He
judges his character, not by the holy character of God, but by the
character of other men. His mind is turned away from God to humanity. This
is the secret of his self-satisfaction.
He proceeds to recount his good deeds: "I fast twice in the
week, I give tithes of all that I possess." The religion of the
Pharisee does not touch the soul. He is not seeking Godlikeness of
character, a heart filled with love and mercy. He is satisfied with a
religion that has to do only with outward life. His righteousness is his
own--the fruit of his own works--and judged by a human standard.
Whoever trusts in himself that he is righteous, will despise
others. As the Pharisee judges himself by other men, so he judges other
men by himself. His righteousness is estimated by theirs, and the
worse they are the more righteous by contrast he appears. His
self-righteousness leads to accusing. "Other men" he condemns as transgressors of
God's law. Thus he is making manifest the very spirit of Satan, the
accuser of the brethren. With this spirit it is impossible for him to
enter into communion with God. He goes down to his house destitute of
the divine blessing.
The publican had gone to the temple with other worshipers,
but he soon drew apart from them as unworthy to unite in their
devotions. Standing afar off, he "would not lift up so much as his eyes
unto heaven, but smote upon his breast," in bitter anguish and
self-abhorrence. He felt that he had transgressed against God, that he was sinful
and polluted. He could not expect even pity from those around him,
for they looked upon him with contempt. He knew that he had no merit
to commend him to God, and in utter self-despair he cried, "God be
merciful to me, a sinner." He did not compare himself with others.
Overwhelmed with a sense of guilt, he stood as if alone in God's presence.
His only desire was for pardon and peace, his only plea was the
mercy of God. And he was blessed. "I tell you," Christ said, "this man
went down to his house justified rather than the other."
The Pharisee and the publican represent two great classes
into which those who come to worship God are divided. Their first two
representatives are found in the first two children that were born into the
world. Cain thought himself righteous, and he came to God with a thank
offering only. He made no confession of sin, and acknowledged no need of
mercy. But Abel came with the blood that pointed to the Lamb of God. He
came as a sinner, confessing himself lost; his only hope was the
unmerited love of God. The Lord had respect to his offering, but to Cain
and his offering He had not respect. The sense of need, the
recognition of our poverty and sin, is the very first condition of
acceptance with God. "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven." Matt. 5:3. COL150-3
The Pharisee thought himself righteous (see v. 9), but God did
not think so. The publican knew himself to be a sinner (see v. 13),
and this realization opened the way for God to pronounce him
sinless--a sinner justified by divine mercy (see on v. 13). It was the
attitudes of the two men toward themselves and toward God that made the
difference... The Pharisee disqualified himself from receiving divine mercy
and grace. Self-satisfaction closed the door of his heart to the
rich currents of divine love that brought joy and peace to the
publican. The prayer of the Pharisee was unacceptable before God, for it
was not accompanied with the incense of the merits of Jesus Christ.
[SDA Bible Commentary]
The Pharisee did not go to the temple to pray to God but to
announce to all within earshot how good he was. The tax collector went
recognizing his sin and begging for mercy. Self-righteousness is dangerous.
It leads to pride, causes a person to despise others, and prevents
him or her from learning anything from God. The tax collector's
prayer should be our prayer, because we all need God's mercy every day.
Don't let pride in your achievements cut you off from God. [Life
Application SB]
The Pharisee's righteousness has made him contemptuous and
loveless and self-centered; he prays "with himself" and gives thanks that
he is not like other men. The praying tax collector beats his
breast in desperation, prays the prayer of Ps.51:1, and receives the
promise of Ps.51:17: "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken
spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." He
goes down to his house justified. The great promise of the future
(will be exalted) has restored and renewed him even now. [Concordia
SB]
Those who are filled with self-esteem and self-love do not feel
the need of a living, personal union with Christ. {COL162}
To be self-emptied is the fundamental and indispensable
preparation for the reception of the grace of God that brings salvation.
[Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]
We have to come to grips with our own spiritual poverty before
we can experience the riches of a relationship with Christ. As long
as we feel self-sufficient, we will never know his sufficiency. As
long as we are satisfied with what this world offers, we will never
know the value in living for eternal things. As long as we are
content with our own abilities, we will never experience the power of
God working through us. That's why Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor
in spirit" (Matthew 5:3). Here in Jesus' parable, the humble tax
collector is commended because - in contrast to the proud Pharisee who was
satisfied with his own righteousness - he recognized his own poverty of
spirit, his own sinfulness. [NIV Once A Day Bible re Luke 18:9-14]
I am ever so near you, hovering over your shoulder, reading
every thought. People think that thoughts are fleeting and worthless,
but yours are precious to Me. I smile when you think lovingly of Me.
My Spirit, who lives within you, helps you to think My thoughts. As
your thinking goes, so goes your entire being.
Let Me be your positive Focus. When you look to Me, knowing
Me as God with you, you experience Joy. This is according to My
ancient design, when I first crafted man. Modern man seeks his positive
focus elsewhere: in sports, sensations, acquiring new possessions.
Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in
their lives. I planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only
I could fully satisfy it. Delight yourself in Me; let Me become
the Desire of your heart. (Mat. 1:23; Psa. 37:4) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Let Jesus be everything to you, and He will take you home with
Him not only for a day, but for eternity. [My Utmost for His Highest
by Oswald Chambers]
MINI-VIDEO DEVOTIONAL ON THIS PASSAGE BY PASTOR SHAWN BOONSTRA:
http://www.itiswritten.com/television/episodes/2244
SPECIAL VIDEO CLIP ON SEEKING GOD
http://vimeo.com/31489782
