Luke 18:9-14
9 And He also told this parable to
some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed
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 stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not
like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax
collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes
of all that I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector, standing
some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was
beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I
tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be
exalted.”
Parables on prayer continue as Jesus prepares His disciples
to live as members of the kingdom. He
started speaking of the need for persistence in the action of prayer and now He
speaks of the need for humility in the attitude of prayer. In the parable there is a self-righteous
Pharisee who makes a useless spectacle of prayer that is rooted in pride. There is also a repentant tax collector who
is justified because of his effective prayer that sprung from a humbled heart.
PRIDE IMPEDES PRAYER: The first example of prayer is a
Pharisee. The expectation of the
audience would be that the Pharisee be an expert at prayer. However, his prayer is full of pride and
self-righteousness. His posture in
prayer is standing and he prays silently.
He begins by thanking God that he is not like other people who are
dishonest and immoral and then mentions the tax collector specifically. He then proceeds to mention all his spiritual
qualifications such as his frequent fasting and meticulous offerings. He makes no request of God, confesses no sin
to God and does not worship God. Jesus
assures His disciples that this man was not justified and will be humbled because
he exalted himself. Pride will impede the
impact of our praying.
HUMILITY IMPELS PRAYER: The second example of prayer is a
tax collector. He was introduced by the Pharisee
as a person whom the Pharisee was grateful not to be like. This man’s posture is that of a broken
man. He stands far away from the temple area
because he feels unworthy of God’s presence.
He can’t even lift up his face.
He beats his chest as a sign of repentance and simply cries out to God
for mercy because he knows his is a sinner.
There is no pretentiousness in his heart, just the desperate recognition
of the fact that he is a sinner deserving of condemnation but desperately desiring
forgiveness. Jesus affirms that this man’s
prayer was answered and that his repentance and faith justified him. Prayer in and of itself is an act of humility
so there really is no room for pride in prayer.
Humility in prayer is the key to attaining access to God and will always
draw us closer to the will of God.
Humility impels prayer before the throne of the Father and brings
glorious results.
APPLICATION: As we go to God in prayer, be very careful to
search our hearts for pride and self-righteousness. Recognize we are all sinners completely unworthy
of the privilege of prayer. Be humble
before the Lord, ask for His mercy and be thankful for His grace.
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