Luke 18:9-14 (New International Version, ©2011)
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
We're focusing on the importance of prayer this month and this week the idea is our attitude and how we should pray. This verse speaks loudly to me cause pride has always been a great hurdle in my life and self righteousness is definitely part of who I am now. I have to confess and I pray that as I write and consciously work on seeking the Lord and His righteousness, my pride and self righteousness will be replaced with His humility and grace =)
I dont know how many of you see it this way but do you ever watch the news, read the news paper about someone who have created a heinous crime and we get disgusted at the person and we think to ourselves we're better then him/her? I confess that I do. In fact, day to day, I make comparisons with others or even sins of others and tell myself that I didn't commit a sin greater then he/she did hence making me more righteous. It's subconscious but I know this delusion and falsehood resides in my mind. Having read this passage, the Lord expose this and is showing me what I also know and have read in the Bible.
Paul clearly states that(let me find the verses and get back)
1) There is no one more righteous then the other,
2) Our righteousness is a gift and was never by our works so how could we say/think we are more righteous then anyone else,
3) We are all equal in that we have all fallen short of His glory.
4) If you have sinned, you have sinned, it doesn't matter what sin.
This is where humility comes in. Noticed that if we have believed what Paul have taught then we could never pray the prayer that the Pharisee pray.
1) We will never put others down cause we should/will lift them up in love
2) Comparisons like that should never be made about how one is more righteous
3) He justify himself by his deeds but the truth is our righteousness is the gift of GOD. Not by works but by faith.
Notice that Jesus is speaking to people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and view others with contempt. What can I say more? Lets consciously work on not falling into this group. Let our trust be in the Lord on what He have done, not what we have done. Let us also uphold one another especially in the body of Christ instead of looking down on anyone.
Yesterday Kor Mark also made a point about how we ought to treat others who persecute us. True humility would not just be us being able to see others who have not sinned against us as equals but to even those who have. Humility is practiced when we forgive and when we pray for those who persecute you. When we are able to see those that have failed or sin as equals is one stage/level of learning humility. the next stage/level is when you are still able to see them a equals and love them, praying and forgiving when they persecute/sin against you.
Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner! I admit that I have failed You in so many ways but yet Your amazing grace and love ever envelops and surround me, tugging at my heart to recognize that You still desire for me to be in Your Kingdom, to be Your son, your friend... Father I recognize that I have done nothing to deserve what you have given me and that nothing I do can ever justify or made right what I did wrong. It is only by the Blood of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus! His righteousness is what cloths us and allow us to commune with you! Lord teach us your people humility and that we might exemplify true humility to this world that trust in themselves. What an important value humility is. HUMBLE ME LORD!
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