Luke 18:9-17
In humble
Repentance Faith lives by grace
This morning Jesus tells a parable, “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous.” In this parable, the Pharisee unjustly boasts
before God based on his own merits, whereas the tax collector intently prayed,
“God be merciful to me, a sinner!”
V.13
This poor miserable sinner trusted Christ and “he went down to his house justified rather
than the other.” V. 18 For the one who humbles himself will be exalted but,
“everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled.” V.14 This is why “the LORD
had regard for Able and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no
regard.” (Genesis 4:4-5)
The Pharisee placed the hope of his salvation in himself and
his good works. He confidently declared to the LORD, the righteous Judge of the
universe, “God I thank you I am not life
other men, an extortionist, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week; I give a tithe of all I get.” He tithed over his gross
income while doubling the fasting requirement.
His outward piety exceed the requirements of the Law.
Those who first heard these words of the Savior clearly
understood the
seriousness of which Jesus spoke and the irony of which these two men
prayed. Again, something they clearly
understood and that which we would hardly take notice today.
“Two men went up –
ascended – into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
collector.” – v. 10
According to Jewish law, there was a required quorum of at
least ten men necessary for the public reading of the Torah and for prayer.
The fact that these two went up to the temple to pray alone
meant that they had each been individually banned from the sacred assembly.
They could not gather. They could not pray, because there had been scandal and
shame, unresolved sin, Forgiveness had been withheld. They had been shunned.
One bragged of his works; the other begged for mercy. Both
fell far short of the LORD’s standard of perfect holiness, which says, “Speak to the congregation of the people of Israel
and say to them, ‘You shall be holy for I the LORD your God am holy.’” –
Leviticus 19:2
James would remind us, “For
whoever keeps the whole law but ails in one point has become guilty of all of
it,” – James 2:10
We must humble ourselves before the LORD as did this publican
and cry out, “God be merciful to me a
sinner.” As we do in the Kyrie.
The Lord hears the prayer of those who trust in Him and
jumble themselves before Him.
Like the tax collector, we go home from the Divine Service
justified having received the full forgiveness of all our sin.
This Jesus, who went to the cross for you, bearing your
burdens, cares and sins took upon Himself the burden of your sin. Forgetting
the cost, He bore your sin in His body on the tree. He has now freed you to
serve your neighbor in love.
So says St. Paul, So if
there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation
in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same
mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own
interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among
yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of
God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself,
by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human
form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death
on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name, so that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-10
You who have faith in the LORD’s promises can also assay with
St. Paul “the Lord will recuse me from
every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the
glory forever and ever. Amen” – 2 Timothy 4:18
Passive Sentences –14$
Readability – 68.1
Reading Level – 8.5
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