For our consideration this week, Jesus says, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (v. 14)
In the Gospel reading this week, there are two main characters: the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee and the tax collector both have the same, major problem. They are both sinners, but they each seek out a solution in a different way. The Pharisee goes up to the temple, and stands in plain view for everyone to see. He said, “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and I pay tithes of all that I get.” Here in his prayer, the Pharisee reveals that he has a second problem. He is arrogant. All he does here is list off other people’s sins as well as his own merits and good works. He does not believe that he is a sinner. He fasts twice a week! Or at the very least he does not believe that he is as much a sinner as others, especially that tax collector over there. After all, he doesn’t cheat people or commit adultery. The Pharisee pronounces judgment upon himself. He believes that he is a righteous man. He believes that he has no need of God’s forgiveness and mercy.
Then we see the other sinner in the story, the tax-collector. The tax-collector does not stand in plain view of everyone. Instead, he falls down on his knees. He will not even lift his eyes toward heaven. It is almost as if he is afraid that God will see him and his sin. The tax collector knows that he is the worst of all sinners. He does not mention any merits or good works which he might present to God. He knows that there aren’t any. He does not mention any comparison to other people or their sins. He knows that he is no better than anyone else. The tax-collector does not pronounce his own judgment. He simply begs for mercy from God. He humbles himself and repents, and Jesus says, “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other.”
The Pharisee compared himself to others. He exalted himself. He stood and prayed to the God and Creator of the Universe who knows all things and sees all things, including the Pharisee’s true and sinful heart. The Pharisee prayed to the All-Knowing God and gave an accounting of everyone else’s problems. Imagine going to the doctor. You sit down in the doctor’s office, and you start telling him how unhealthy your next door neighbor is. You have a sharp pain in your chest and your left arm is going numb, but you think that’s not really that big of a deal. The doctor doesn’t need to know that. You just keep telling him about your neighbor’s diabetes.
That’s what the Pharisee was doing! He was dying in sin, but his pride and arrogance kept him from repentance. He refused to be humbled and confess. Instead, he just keeps listing off his own merits and his neighbor’s downfalls. What good is it to tell the doctor about your neighbor’s diabetes when you are having a heart attack? What good would that do? Would that cure you? In the same way, what good is it to tell God about your neighbor’s dishonesty or even to list off your own good works when you are just as sinful? Will your good works forgive you? Will your neighbor’s sin really change your standing before God? No. They will not.
Jesus says, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The Pharisee exalted himself, and truly at the Day of Judgment he will be humbled. The tax-collector humbled himself and begged for mercy. Truly at the Last Day, he will be justified and exalted.
So, what does this mean for us here today? It is obvious that we are not supposed to be like the Pharisee who prays, “God I thank you that I am not like other men.” Jesus is clearly trying to tell us to be like the tax-collector. But, how easy is it to puff ourselves up even after hearing this story? How easy is it to say, “O God, I thank you that I am not like this Pharisee. I’m not super concerned with tithing or fasting. I don’t care if my neighbor openly sins. In fact, I affirm and applaud my neighbor for their individuality, and I condemn anyone who tries to call them to repentance. Thank you for not making me like this Pharisee.” But, my friends, by saying these things, we have become like the Pharisee. The Pharisee was not in the wrong because he tithed. He was not in the wrong because he fasted twice every week. He was not wrong for adhering to God’s law. Refraining from adultery and dishonesty are good things. That is not why the Pharisee was wrong. Instead, he was wrong because he believed that his works justified him. And the tax-collector is right in his prayer because he knew that the only way to be justified, the only way to be forgiven and made right before God was through the mercy, love, and forgiveness of God. And so he rightly humbles himself and prays, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
This is the prayer of every Christian. “God be merciful to me, a sinner. Forgive us our trespasses. Deliver us from evil.” Our liturgy says with 1 John, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But, if we confess our sin, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We are all sinners, every last one of us. We are guilty. But, God is faithful and just. He forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus came to earth and humbled himself on our behalf. From the moment He was born in a stable until He was crucified next to criminals, Jesus humbled himself so that we might be exalted. This is why God can now declare you righteous. This does not mean that God has all of a sudden become immoral by saying that our unacceptable behavior is suddenly acceptable. Rather, He takes His Son Jesus Christ and heaps upon Him all of our sin, all of our wrongdoing, and all of our guilt. God laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. God exalts us, He justifies us by the humility of Jesus on the cross. At that cross of Christ, God pronounces judgment upon you. That judgment is forgiveness and eternal life. God judges you innocent because Jesus has taken our guilt. The water and blood which flows from Jesus’ side has become the healing balm with which you were washed in Holy Baptism. His sacrificial and life-giving body and blood fill every table and overflow every cup the world over. His blessed words of absolution offer an answer to our prayer. We beg, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” And from the cross Jesus says, “Father forgive them.” He answers, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” He tells us, “It is finished.” With these words, you hear that your sins are forgiven. With these words, you hear that exaltation to the Kingdom of God awaits you because the Son of God humbled Himself and became Man to take your place, to be forsaken by God. And finally with these words, you hear that there is nothing more to do. It is finished. Christ has redeemed you. Your sins are gone forever. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
In the Gospel reading this week, there are two main characters: the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee and the tax collector both have the same, major problem. They are both sinners, but they each seek out a solution in a different way. The Pharisee goes up to the temple, and stands in plain view for everyone to see. He said, “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and I pay tithes of all that I get.” Here in his prayer, the Pharisee reveals that he has a second problem. He is arrogant. All he does here is list off other people’s sins as well as his own merits and good works. He does not believe that he is a sinner. He fasts twice a week! Or at the very least he does not believe that he is as much a sinner as others, especially that tax collector over there. After all, he doesn’t cheat people or commit adultery. The Pharisee pronounces judgment upon himself. He believes that he is a righteous man. He believes that he has no need of God’s forgiveness and mercy.
Then we see the other sinner in the story, the tax-collector. The tax-collector does not stand in plain view of everyone. Instead, he falls down on his knees. He will not even lift his eyes toward heaven. It is almost as if he is afraid that God will see him and his sin. The tax collector knows that he is the worst of all sinners. He does not mention any merits or good works which he might present to God. He knows that there aren’t any. He does not mention any comparison to other people or their sins. He knows that he is no better than anyone else. The tax-collector does not pronounce his own judgment. He simply begs for mercy from God. He humbles himself and repents, and Jesus says, “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other.”
The Pharisee compared himself to others. He exalted himself. He stood and prayed to the God and Creator of the Universe who knows all things and sees all things, including the Pharisee’s true and sinful heart. The Pharisee prayed to the All-Knowing God and gave an accounting of everyone else’s problems. Imagine going to the doctor. You sit down in the doctor’s office, and you start telling him how unhealthy your next door neighbor is. You have a sharp pain in your chest and your left arm is going numb, but you think that’s not really that big of a deal. The doctor doesn’t need to know that. You just keep telling him about your neighbor’s diabetes.
That’s what the Pharisee was doing! He was dying in sin, but his pride and arrogance kept him from repentance. He refused to be humbled and confess. Instead, he just keeps listing off his own merits and his neighbor’s downfalls. What good is it to tell the doctor about your neighbor’s diabetes when you are having a heart attack? What good would that do? Would that cure you? In the same way, what good is it to tell God about your neighbor’s dishonesty or even to list off your own good works when you are just as sinful? Will your good works forgive you? Will your neighbor’s sin really change your standing before God? No. They will not.
Jesus says, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The Pharisee exalted himself, and truly at the Day of Judgment he will be humbled. The tax-collector humbled himself and begged for mercy. Truly at the Last Day, he will be justified and exalted.
So, what does this mean for us here today? It is obvious that we are not supposed to be like the Pharisee who prays, “God I thank you that I am not like other men.” Jesus is clearly trying to tell us to be like the tax-collector. But, how easy is it to puff ourselves up even after hearing this story? How easy is it to say, “O God, I thank you that I am not like this Pharisee. I’m not super concerned with tithing or fasting. I don’t care if my neighbor openly sins. In fact, I affirm and applaud my neighbor for their individuality, and I condemn anyone who tries to call them to repentance. Thank you for not making me like this Pharisee.” But, my friends, by saying these things, we have become like the Pharisee. The Pharisee was not in the wrong because he tithed. He was not in the wrong because he fasted twice every week. He was not wrong for adhering to God’s law. Refraining from adultery and dishonesty are good things. That is not why the Pharisee was wrong. Instead, he was wrong because he believed that his works justified him. And the tax-collector is right in his prayer because he knew that the only way to be justified, the only way to be forgiven and made right before God was through the mercy, love, and forgiveness of God. And so he rightly humbles himself and prays, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
This is the prayer of every Christian. “God be merciful to me, a sinner. Forgive us our trespasses. Deliver us from evil.” Our liturgy says with 1 John, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But, if we confess our sin, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We are all sinners, every last one of us. We are guilty. But, God is faithful and just. He forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus came to earth and humbled himself on our behalf. From the moment He was born in a stable until He was crucified next to criminals, Jesus humbled himself so that we might be exalted. This is why God can now declare you righteous. This does not mean that God has all of a sudden become immoral by saying that our unacceptable behavior is suddenly acceptable. Rather, He takes His Son Jesus Christ and heaps upon Him all of our sin, all of our wrongdoing, and all of our guilt. God laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. God exalts us, He justifies us by the humility of Jesus on the cross. At that cross of Christ, God pronounces judgment upon you. That judgment is forgiveness and eternal life. God judges you innocent because Jesus has taken our guilt. The water and blood which flows from Jesus’ side has become the healing balm with which you were washed in Holy Baptism. His sacrificial and life-giving body and blood fill every table and overflow every cup the world over. His blessed words of absolution offer an answer to our prayer. We beg, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” And from the cross Jesus says, “Father forgive them.” He answers, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” He tells us, “It is finished.” With these words, you hear that your sins are forgiven. With these words, you hear that exaltation to the Kingdom of God awaits you because the Son of God humbled Himself and became Man to take your place, to be forsaken by God. And finally with these words, you hear that there is nothing more to do. It is finished. Christ has redeemed you. Your sins are gone forever. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.