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Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 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. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “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.’ “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.”
New International Version (NIV)
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Do you know this story? Two men went up to church to ask God for help. A very wealthy man needed $10 million for a business deal. The other man needed $400 to pay his rent. The first man began to pray silently, but his thoughts were overshadowed by the poor man behind him, hollering loudly, “Lord, Lord, I need your help. Unless I get $400 I cannot pay my rent. I will be out on the street.” His loud clamor for God’s attention disrupted the wealthier man’s train of thought. After about fifteen minutes, the wealthy man stood up, walked over, opened his wallet and gave the poor man $400. As the grateful man quietly walked out, the wealthy man knelt again and said to God, “Now that I have your undivided attention . . .”
In the ancient world, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a Tax Collector,” sounded like the opening sequence to a funny moral story. In the typical punchline, the Pharisee was shown to be righteous and the Tax collector was seen as a scoundrel. Every joke had that punchline until Jesus told this story. In the punchline, Jesus shows the “bad guy” getting what he wants, and the “good guy” being disappointed.
Jesus had a way of turning things upside down. Some were overconfident in their own righteousness and looked down on others. Jesus uniquely portrays the humility of the Tax Collector. For Jesus, tax collector did not equate with “worst kind of sinner.” Christianity reminds us that pride is a sin. We must not presume upon God’s grace. The moral principle of the story is this: those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
To this day this teaching is counterintuitive. “Believe in yourself,” the culture cries. “Seize what you need”. But Jesus flips that sentiment upside down. “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” In the first story, the poor man crying loudly received his rent money from the wealthy man. God still provides for those who trust. Let us humble ourselves before the Lord and find his grace today.
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Pray with me:
Father, reveal to us today any false pride that may have taken up residence in our souls. Help us to trust you fully and completely. Forgive us for our self-reliance and entitlement. Help us today to simply trust you to provide for us. Thank you for forgiving us. Help us to forgive also. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 5:7-8
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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