Scripture:
Luke 18:9-14 ESV
[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. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Observation:
Jesus often taught HIS disciples in parables. Stories that they could relate to. This particular story was aimed at some people who thought they were good enough. They thought their righteousness would be more than sufficient to get them to heaven. They were so convinced of this that they looked down on others who were in their eyes just a little beneath them. Jesus explains that 2 men were going to the temple with the same thing on their minds. They wanted to pray. They were 2 very different men, and both had a position of authority in the community. But they had a very different heart posture. The first one was a religious leader. Who stood at the altar and prayed about all the right things or religious activities he had done. His heart posture was saying to look at how good I am. I am doing all the right things. I have the checklist covered. I’m way better than this tax collector. The second man had a very different approach. Falling on his face before an Almighty GOD. He knew who he was. He knew he was a sinner, and his only hope was for GOD’S grace and mercy. He begged and pleaded for it, not even able to lift his eyes to the heavens. One of the men went away from that moment justified. But it wasn’t the one who tried to justify himself by all the good things he had done. It was the tax collector. Who fell on his face and knew who he was before an Almighty GOD. The point that Jesus was teaching is this… all the religious stuff is just that. Religious stuff. It won’t do. You have to know who you are. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD.
Application:
This is my confession. I have been that man. It’s a really dangerous stop to be. 14 years ago, I got saved. I accepted Jesus Christ as my LORD and SAVIOR, and he delivered me from the bounds of addiction. After a few years of walking with HIM. Being set free, I started looking at those who were still trapped differently. I criticized them. Rather than thinking they needed help. I started thinking I didn’t see why they couldn’t just stop… I DID. Sure, I would reach out to them. But my pride would get in the way of any real help that could be offered. My self-righteous attitude showed through. Like I said, this is a really dangerous spot to be. My pride got the better of me, and a few years into my walk with Jesus, I found myself in the same position I was looking down on. Not just trapped in addiction but re-trapped… to me, trapped is one thing, but to return to your vomit is entirely different. Yesterday, we learned that who the Son sets free is free indeed. My point to saying that is if we want to stay free, we have to remember we did not do it… I know who I am without Jesus as my LORD and SAVIOR. Left to myself, I will think I am someone. All my religious activities are doing something. But they are not. We are not saved by our works. We are saved for good work. Today, my stance is completely different. Church attendance and the religious checklist no longer play a part in my salvation. To be honest, it’s not like they ever did. Of myself and the things I do, I will never be good enough. It’s only through Jesus Christ that I have found salvation. Knowing that you are just like me has set me free to live for HIM… and help all those I can. It’s only for the grace of GOD that any of us break free from the power of sin and death. FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. It doesn’t matter how many good things you do. If your heart is to justify yourself. You are just working for your own satisfaction. Getting nowhere. One more thing, and we will close in prayer. There are 2 groups of people mentioned by Jesus in the end times sonorio. The first group says, “Didn’t we do a bunch of good things casting out demons and all that stuff?” The second group says… “When did we do those things you are talking about?” Both groups have a very different ending to what wax said to them. The first group was told to depart from the presence of GOD… the second was told to enter in. The question is, which group do you want to be in? Personally, I want to do the right thing… just because it’s the right thing to do. Not because I think it will get me into heaven. The only thing that’s going to do that is a relationship with the one who died for you.
Prayer:
Father, you are good. Without you, we have no hope. Help us to see that no matter how good we may think we are, only you can save us from ourselves. We know that we will never be able to stand in front of a holy and righteous GOD and say, “Look at what WE did.” The only way we are justified is by the blood of your SON. All our religious activities won’t work. Keep us right sized, not looking to what we do for salvation but looking at our salvation for how to help others. We know that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works so that no man can boast. Your plan takes all the pride out of who we might begin to think we are. Help us to keep in mind that it is not us… it’s all about you. It’s all about who you are and what you have done. You want to use us to do great and mighty things, but even in those great and mighty things, it’s all about you… and your glory. My request this morning is simple keep us right sized…it’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.