This parable deals with the content of our prayers. Here are two men who went to the Temple. The Pharisee was ostentatious in his posture during prayer, by implication raising his eyes to heaven (see v. 13). How important it is that we approach God humbly. When we refer to ourselves in prayer, it should be to confess our sins, not boast of our virtues! Outwardly, the Pharisee was holy. He lived a good, religious, moral way of life. Yet God had no time for his self-centered gratitude. The tax collector (or ‘publican’) on the other hand, just beat his breast, saying ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ This second man ‘humbled himself’ and went home ‘justified’ (v. 14)—that is, God proclaimed him as righteous in his sight. Why? Because of his humility before God. The Pharisee, however, was still in his sins, however good he appeared to men. To be ‘justified’ means to be ‘proclaimed righteous’ (v. 14). It is important that we understand this term, for it is used many times in Scripture. It means more than ‘forgiven’—it means that the person is to be regarded as good and right standing before God. We are justified by God because of our faith and humble standing before Him. God is the one who justifies us and saves us but it is done to us because our faith and humility as put us in that position.
The Pharisee and the tax collector (18:9–14)
This parable deals with the content of our prayers. Here are two men who went to the Temple. The Pharisee was ostentatious in his posture during prayer, by implication raising his eyes to heaven (see v. 13). How important it is that we approach God humbly. When we refer to ourselves in prayer, it should be to confess our sins, not boast of our virtues! Outwardly, the Pharisee was holy. He lived a good, religious, moral way of life. Yet God had no time for his self-centered gratitude. The tax collector (or ‘publican’) on the other hand, just beat his breast, saying ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ This second man ‘humbled himself’ and went home ‘justified’ (v. 14)—that is, God proclaimed him as righteous in his sight. Why? Because of his humility before God. The Pharisee, however, was still in his sins, however good he appeared to men. To be ‘justified’ means to be ‘proclaimed righteous’ (v. 14). It is important that we understand this term, for it is used many times in Scripture. It means more than ‘forgiven’—it means that the person is to be regarded as good and right standing before God. We are justified by God because of our faith and humble standing before Him. God is the one who justifies us and saves us but it is done to us because our faith and humility as put us in that position.
3 Comments
Tammy
10/25/2015 05:32:27 am
What I see today from some Christians is the same behavior the Pharisee had. And they are not winning people to Jesus by that type of behavior. Thinking better of themselves than others isn't going to make disciples. So many times I hear people say..."look..that person thinks they are better than me cause they have Jesus but if that's a Christian...I don't want to be one" . To be honest...this was my mentality for a lot of years to the Christians I knew. They were trying so hard to be right before God they forgot about being humble in that they are also a sinner saved by grace. They forget they were once destined for hell and lose their compassion for the sinner. Taking for granted the gift Of life given to them. Being more judge mental than humble to others. God isn't impressed with those actions as this reading indicates. He wants us to be humble and recognize we need Him more than anything else. I like when you said we are justified by our faith and humility....amen to that!
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Bruce
10/26/2015 12:36:47 am
This sort of goes back to one of my last postings about the lady I work with. She has the feelings as Tammy described. We again talked to tonight and she was a little more hard nosed at first. Saying about people putting on show in the name of religion. Then she said something that made me feel good about the conversation. She said, " it's not about what you ( meaning other people) think about how I worship. It's about me worshipping and doing the right thing". In essence, she was saying I don't have to impress others. I just have to believe in God and live a Godly life. I mentioned to her that I was going to use those words in this blog and that I enjoyed the conversation. She agreed and I look forward to more talks with her about faith.
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Tammy
10/26/2015 02:50:22 am
That's awesome!! Keep the communication open!
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