Trinity 11 August 23, 2020
Luke 18:9-14
v.14b For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Dear friends in Christ, you have no doubt heard of the celebrated story written by Jane Austen, entitled, Pride and Prejudice. A story of two young people who fall in love, yet refuse to admit their love because of their selfish pride and prejudice they hold against one another. Today, we see in our text another story concerning pride, Pride and Prayer.
At first glance we might find it difficult to believe that one could be prideful in their prayers—yet, here Jesus lays it before us plainly and simply as He tells a parable about two men who went to the temple to pray. His audience for this story? “Some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.”
The Pharisee, principle character number 1, thought that he was, indeed, number 1 in everything. In his prayer, God gets short shrift, the briefest of introductions, and then he proceeds to go on and on...about whom? Himself! “Oh, I thank you God that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” In our language, he is saying, “Thank you Lord for making me, me. I am such a great guy. I don’t take other people’s belongings, I deal fairly with people, I don’t cheat on my wife, nor am I like this crooked government lackey over here. I am such a good guy—you should be thankful that I am your follower.”
The second principle character in this story, the tax collector, does not pray in the same manner at all. He cannot even bring himself to look up to heaven when he prays, he feels so absolutely unworthy and low. He keeps his eyes downcast and beats upon his own chest, chanting, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” He does not plead his case before God. He does not set forth any good works—rather, he accuses himself of being precisely that which God cannot abide—a man consumed by sin—but then he pleads to God for the one thing that he needs most—mercy!
Which one of these two men was prideful? Which was humble? Which one went home justified before God—declared righteous by His grace and power? The one who repented of his sin and relied on the mercy of God for his own sufficiency.
Yet, let’s be honest, though we would often like to think of ourselves as acting like/praying like the tax collector in this story—in reality—whom do we more often reflect in our lives? The Pharisee. It is so easy to get caught up in one’s own pride. We may not go to the extreme that the Pharisee did in our text, blatantly and openly condemning the sins of others and puffing ourselves up. No, we tend to be more subtle—listing our good qualifications—“I was born and raised in the church...I taught Sunday School...I tithe every week...I sang in the choir...I served on council for many years in all different capacities!” All of which may be well and good on their own, but when we begin to take pride in these things—when we begin to look at them as our accomplishments—our works—that God should look kindly towards us because of them—we cross the line. We cross the line from prayer—to pride—which leads to hell and damnation.
For those who view themselves with pride and self-righteousness refuse to confess our sin to God—even fail at times to regard our sin as sin. Sometimes, it seems as though we think God must grade on a curve. “I may not be perfect God, but I am better than so-and-so sitting three pews back—he doesn’t even serve on church council! And I am certainly better than my unbelieving, heathen neighbour who can’t keep his dog from pooping on my lawn! I don't get involved in violent riots, and I try really hard not to be racist. Really, God, I’m a pretty good person—you should be proud to have me as your follower.”
Yet, what does Jesus tell us we are to say? In Luke 17:10, He says, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Furthermore, the prophet Isaiah had some harsh words for those who thought their good works were so great when he says (64:6), “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” Our so-called “righteous deeds”—our very best of our good works—are like a polluted garment—the Hebrew literally means, like a soiled feminine hygiene product. You think your works are so great and wonderful?—try placing those before the throne of the Almighty and see where they get you!
There is only one thing that we can do, dear friends, as people who are filled with pride and sinfully selfish desires. Repent. Repent and throw ourselves down before the mercy seat of God, begging for His mercy, not because we deserve it—not because we have earned it with our good deeds—but solely for the sake of Jesus Christ and His work and sacrifice for our sins.
For we are not to hold ourselves up in comparison to other people—we are held to a much higher standard—that of God’s perfect and holy Law. When we look into the mirror of the Law we see nothing but our own sin and degradation before us and we also know that we are fully deserving of nothing but the Lord’s wrath and fury over sin. We dare not look down at others and their sin with self-righteous arrogant pride—for we truly are no better—no different—in the face of God’s Law.
Since there is nothing good in us we are then led by God’s Spirit to repent of our sin and beg for God’s grace and mercy on account of Christ and His cross. For God is, indeed, ready to bestow mercy generously on even the very worst of sinners—sinners like you and me—because of His grace poured out freely for you in Christ Jesus.
Recall that it was Jesus who was humbled for you. He took on your flesh—your sin—your death—and He suffered and died for it on Calvary’s cross. Because He also knew of your unworthiness—your failures—your many gross sins—and He loved you just the same. He loved you so much that He came to live, suffer, and die so that you wouldn’t have to—so that you could receive forgiveness and mercy for all your sins and be given life everlasting through faith in Him.
By trying to rely on our own righteousness—our own works—we reject the mercy of God and insult Christ who came to win our salvation. True prayer begins by humbling oneself before God and relying purely on His mercy because we have heard and believe the good news of Jesus our great High Priest—who bore all our sins in His own flesh to the cross to pay for them and cleanse us from all guilt and sin and death with His innocent shed blood. For He delights in exalting the lowly—those who humbly confess their sins and receive forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.
Let us pray that the Lord would lead us to deal with others in all humility and respect. May we help them to see their sinful state before God and their salvation in Jesus Christ crucified and risen again. For Christ did not come to purchase heaven and salvation for only a few. No, in His own words (Luke 19:10), “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” You, me, and all people. Truly, He has had mercy on us, sinners all. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Luke 18:9-14
v.14b For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Dear friends in Christ, you have no doubt heard of the celebrated story written by Jane Austen, entitled, Pride and Prejudice. A story of two young people who fall in love, yet refuse to admit their love because of their selfish pride and prejudice they hold against one another. Today, we see in our text another story concerning pride, Pride and Prayer.
At first glance we might find it difficult to believe that one could be prideful in their prayers—yet, here Jesus lays it before us plainly and simply as He tells a parable about two men who went to the temple to pray. His audience for this story? “Some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.”
The Pharisee, principle character number 1, thought that he was, indeed, number 1 in everything. In his prayer, God gets short shrift, the briefest of introductions, and then he proceeds to go on and on...about whom? Himself! “Oh, I thank you God that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” In our language, he is saying, “Thank you Lord for making me, me. I am such a great guy. I don’t take other people’s belongings, I deal fairly with people, I don’t cheat on my wife, nor am I like this crooked government lackey over here. I am such a good guy—you should be thankful that I am your follower.”
The second principle character in this story, the tax collector, does not pray in the same manner at all. He cannot even bring himself to look up to heaven when he prays, he feels so absolutely unworthy and low. He keeps his eyes downcast and beats upon his own chest, chanting, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” He does not plead his case before God. He does not set forth any good works—rather, he accuses himself of being precisely that which God cannot abide—a man consumed by sin—but then he pleads to God for the one thing that he needs most—mercy!
Which one of these two men was prideful? Which was humble? Which one went home justified before God—declared righteous by His grace and power? The one who repented of his sin and relied on the mercy of God for his own sufficiency.
Yet, let’s be honest, though we would often like to think of ourselves as acting like/praying like the tax collector in this story—in reality—whom do we more often reflect in our lives? The Pharisee. It is so easy to get caught up in one’s own pride. We may not go to the extreme that the Pharisee did in our text, blatantly and openly condemning the sins of others and puffing ourselves up. No, we tend to be more subtle—listing our good qualifications—“I was born and raised in the church...I taught Sunday School...I tithe every week...I sang in the choir...I served on council for many years in all different capacities!” All of which may be well and good on their own, but when we begin to take pride in these things—when we begin to look at them as our accomplishments—our works—that God should look kindly towards us because of them—we cross the line. We cross the line from prayer—to pride—which leads to hell and damnation.
For those who view themselves with pride and self-righteousness refuse to confess our sin to God—even fail at times to regard our sin as sin. Sometimes, it seems as though we think God must grade on a curve. “I may not be perfect God, but I am better than so-and-so sitting three pews back—he doesn’t even serve on church council! And I am certainly better than my unbelieving, heathen neighbour who can’t keep his dog from pooping on my lawn! I don't get involved in violent riots, and I try really hard not to be racist. Really, God, I’m a pretty good person—you should be proud to have me as your follower.”
Yet, what does Jesus tell us we are to say? In Luke 17:10, He says, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Furthermore, the prophet Isaiah had some harsh words for those who thought their good works were so great when he says (64:6), “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” Our so-called “righteous deeds”—our very best of our good works—are like a polluted garment—the Hebrew literally means, like a soiled feminine hygiene product. You think your works are so great and wonderful?—try placing those before the throne of the Almighty and see where they get you!
There is only one thing that we can do, dear friends, as people who are filled with pride and sinfully selfish desires. Repent. Repent and throw ourselves down before the mercy seat of God, begging for His mercy, not because we deserve it—not because we have earned it with our good deeds—but solely for the sake of Jesus Christ and His work and sacrifice for our sins.
For we are not to hold ourselves up in comparison to other people—we are held to a much higher standard—that of God’s perfect and holy Law. When we look into the mirror of the Law we see nothing but our own sin and degradation before us and we also know that we are fully deserving of nothing but the Lord’s wrath and fury over sin. We dare not look down at others and their sin with self-righteous arrogant pride—for we truly are no better—no different—in the face of God’s Law.
Since there is nothing good in us we are then led by God’s Spirit to repent of our sin and beg for God’s grace and mercy on account of Christ and His cross. For God is, indeed, ready to bestow mercy generously on even the very worst of sinners—sinners like you and me—because of His grace poured out freely for you in Christ Jesus.
Recall that it was Jesus who was humbled for you. He took on your flesh—your sin—your death—and He suffered and died for it on Calvary’s cross. Because He also knew of your unworthiness—your failures—your many gross sins—and He loved you just the same. He loved you so much that He came to live, suffer, and die so that you wouldn’t have to—so that you could receive forgiveness and mercy for all your sins and be given life everlasting through faith in Him.
By trying to rely on our own righteousness—our own works—we reject the mercy of God and insult Christ who came to win our salvation. True prayer begins by humbling oneself before God and relying purely on His mercy because we have heard and believe the good news of Jesus our great High Priest—who bore all our sins in His own flesh to the cross to pay for them and cleanse us from all guilt and sin and death with His innocent shed blood. For He delights in exalting the lowly—those who humbly confess their sins and receive forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.
Let us pray that the Lord would lead us to deal with others in all humility and respect. May we help them to see their sinful state before God and their salvation in Jesus Christ crucified and risen again. For Christ did not come to purchase heaven and salvation for only a few. No, in His own words (Luke 19:10), “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” You, me, and all people. Truly, He has had mercy on us, sinners all. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.