Topics – Grace, Judgment, Humility
When we hear sermons, often we apply them to someone else. It is always easier to see and try to fix other people’s faults than it is our own. It is common to do this when we read Bible stories. One of the functions of Jesus’ parables is to free us from this self-serving favoritism and force us to look in the mirror.
Focus Scripture – Luke 18:9-14HIDESHOW
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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.
12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13 "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.'
14 "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."
Extended SummaryHIDESHOW
When we hear sermons, we often apply them to someone else. It is always easier to see and try to fix other people’s faults than it is your own. It is common to do this when we read Bible stories. One of the functions of Jesus’ parables is to free us from this self-serving favoritism and force us to look in the mirror.
This parable is directed against those who are confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else. Upon reading this parable, we might imagine a caricature of a stuffy Pharisee and immediately claim “I’m not like THAT…”
Ironically, in process of doing this, we are engaging in the very thing this parable is directed against. We are reinforcing our confidence in our own humble righteousness over and against stuffy judgmental Pharisees.
Ironically, in process of doing this, we are engaging in the very thing this parable is directed against. We are reinforcing our confidence in our own humble righteousness over and against stuffy judgmental Pharisees.
But the Pharisee was probably like many of us, simply confident he was righteous, to the point where he could look down on others. He was sincere when he thanked God he was not like these people. Instead of engaging in evil activity, this man went to the temple (probably daily), fasted twice a week and tithed. He had the right theology and the right behavior. So, of course he was confident he wasn’t like these other people.
The most important person the Pharisee contrasts with is the tax collector since the other character in the parable is a tax collector and probably the most villainous sinner he mentions. In Jewish world, tax collectors were generally viewed as the WORST of the WORST. They were Jews who sided with the Romans and cheated their own people out of money.
It would be natural for a Pharisee to think this way about a tax collector and feel pretty confident about his own righteousness.
Of course this attitude continues today as society as a whole ranks people according to virtues and vices. We reward and punish people according to virtues and vices. But Kingdom people are forbidden to rank people. We are called to avoid viewing some as great and some as despicable. Instead, along with the apostle Paul, we’re to confess that we are the worst of sinners. Following Jesus’ teaching we’re to confess that our sin, whatever it might be, is a tree trunk sticking out of our eyes, and other people’s sins, whatever they might be, are little dust particles.
You may by normal social standards be relatively good… better than most others…you go to church, etc. That doesn’t matter to Jesus because he has abolished the comparison and evaluation game. The way we view ourselves and others has nothing to do with the social virtue-vice evaluation scale. It has everything to do with Jesus. The only way to receive God’s extravagant grace is to embrace a humility that shocks the Pharisees.
Practical Applications (homework)HIDESHOW
We need to be reminded frequently to not judge those around us, but to only rely only on God’s grace for our righteousness. Without Jesus, the sin that each of us struggles with separates us from God just as much as a mass-murderer. Most of us fall into one of two categories: either we need to be reminded about humility, or we need to be reminded of God’s grace. Pick one of the two options below for this week’s homework:
- If by social standards you see yourself as a “bad person” spend some time with someone you’re close to (friend, spouse or small group for example) and talk about why you feel that way. Spend 2-3 minutes praying together to ask God for forgiveness for your sins. Then spend at least 10 minutes talking, praying and thinking quietly about the extravagant, infinite love that God has for you! Resolve to help hold each other accountable to seeing yourselves as redeemed children of God!
- If by social standards you see yourself as a “good person” spend some time with someone you’re close to (friend, spouse or small group for example) and talk about why you feel that way. Then spend time confessing – to each other and to God – some sins that you struggle with. Confess that you see them as minor and ask for forgiveness. Remind each other that you are a part of the rebellious human race, and resolve to help hold each other accountable to humility.
Reflection QuestionsHIDESHOW
- With whom do you associate in this parable? What is your first reaction to Jesus’ words?
- What is your natural reaction to the modern day comparison to Osama Bin Laden?
- If you associate with the Pharisee, how to you judge others? What impact does that have upon your relationships?
- If you associate with the tax collector, how do you see yourself as unworthy of love and grace?
- What is God saying to you right now?