Focus on Jesus GOD JUSTIFIES PUBLICANS
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Luke 18:9.
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week [the Pharisee was probably slim and trim], I give tithes of all that I possess [the church that he attended was probably financially secure]. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:10-14).
We notice first of all that this parable was spoken for certain persons who trusted in themselves. The initial thrust of this parable is for the Pharisee. Notice that both men went to the Temple to worship, but only one worshiped God, because you can't worship God and self at the same time. They both went there to pray, but only one prayed to God. The Pharisee prayed to himself.
The Pharisee reminds us by contrast of what Jesus said in Matthew 9:13, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." And He said in Matthew 5:20 that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, there's no hope. The problem with the Pharisee is that he had the idea he could save himself. Anyone who thinks he can save himself is becoming his own God. The hardest hitting warnings in all of Scripture are against that. Trying to take the place of God is called blasphemy by Jesus (John 10:33). And blasphemy doesn't get very good marks.
It is possible to be a Pharisee today. It is possible today to be guilty of the sin of blasphemy. There is nothing in our tithe-paying, or our fasting, or any of our good works, to commend us to God. Each one of us must recognize anew each day that we are sinners, in need of God's mercy. As we bow in humility with the publican, we too will receive of God's justifying grace, and have peace with God.
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Luke 18:9.
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week [the Pharisee was probably slim and trim], I give tithes of all that I possess [the church that he attended was probably financially secure]. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:10-14).
We notice first of all that this parable was spoken for certain persons who trusted in themselves. The initial thrust of this parable is for the Pharisee. Notice that both men went to the Temple to worship, but only one worshiped God, because you can't worship God and self at the same time. They both went there to pray, but only one prayed to God. The Pharisee prayed to himself.
The Pharisee reminds us by contrast of what Jesus said in Matthew 9:13, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." And He said in Matthew 5:20 that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, there's no hope. The problem with the Pharisee is that he had the idea he could save himself. Anyone who thinks he can save himself is becoming his own God. The hardest hitting warnings in all of Scripture are against that. Trying to take the place of God is called blasphemy by Jesus (John 10:33). And blasphemy doesn't get very good marks.
It is possible to be a Pharisee today. It is possible today to be guilty of the sin of blasphemy. There is nothing in our tithe-paying, or our fasting, or any of our good works, to commend us to God. Each one of us must recognize anew each day that we are sinners, in need of God's mercy. As we bow in humility with the publican, we too will receive of God's justifying grace, and have peace with God.
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