“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.
Two men went into the Temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, 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 a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
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 everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Luke 18: 9-14
This is a lovely parable, but at the same time, it is very sad. The phrase that stands out to me whenever I read it is this “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself” . This is so sad. God didn't even hear his prayer, he was praying to himself! He held himself in such high esteem, he thought he was perfect compared with other men. He did all the religious duties required of him, and was proud of it. He didn't see any room for improvement, he had it all 'just right'! In effect, he was saying “Look at me, I'm successful, what a great guy I am!”
The publican, on the other hand, was a sinner and he knew it. He wasn't proud of what he had become, in fact, he was ashamed of it. He felt UNWORTHY in God's presence, and couldn't even bring himself to look up to heaven. He just cried out for the mercy of God, for he knew in his heart that God's mercy was his only hope.
We all need to learn from this. God doesn't want to hear us boasting of what we are doing for him. God is very aware of everything that we do and our motives for doing them. God just wants to see a heart of repentance in each of us. We cannot measure up, as we should, because we have all MISSED THE MARK.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
There is nothing at all that we can do to rectify this. We are sinners, we have fallen short, and cannot correct it. We have fallen, and cannot pick ourselves up. Our only hope is God's mercy towards us.
How different is this from the world around us. New Age teachers are telling us that man has become of age, that we can be the answer to all our own problems. Popular religion is no better. It just gives us a set of rules and observances to follow, and just seeks to change man from the outside.
God, on the other hand, looks upon our heart. He sees our true condition before Him.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” Jeremiah 17:9
Only the BLOOD OF HIS DEAR SON Jesus is able to cleans us from our sin, and put us in a right relationship with Him.
“Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God” Romans 3: 24-25
Jesus is our only hope of the mercy of God. He has paid the price for our salvation in full. We all need to come to him, as the publican in the parable, and seek His mercy and forgiveness. Repentance, looked upon as old fashioned by many today, is the step we must take in order to be saved.
What is repentance? Saying sorry? Well yes, it is, but it's a whole lot more. REPENTANCE involves a change of direction, a change of mind. We turn from the life we were living, and go in a different direction. There is always a changed heart and a changed life when a person genuinely receives Jesus as Saviour.No change? Then you are no different than the Pharisee. You have fooled yourself, you are not really His.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” Mark 1:15
The kingdom of God is indeed 'at hand' are you ready to enter? Stop trusting in yourself as the Pharisee did, and trust Jesus today!
Brotherly love.....Pastor Keith
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