Opening Prayer
Lord, make us lowly of heart. Amen.
Text: Luke 18:9-14
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Devotion
God, grant that this Gospel today may make us lowly of heart! But we usually are sure that we are not Pharisees, and so the Lord’s chastening words make no impression on us. But let’s say you are not a Pharisee, let’s say you are a meek Christian; even then you have something of a Pharisee in you, for our nature is proud and self-righteous, and each of us still has flesh and blood. Look at yourself according to the Lord’s Word today, and let yourself be humbled. Perhaps you are a Pharisee! But if you will let the power of the Word enter your heart, then it shall bring you, a poor sinner, to your knees in repentance before the Lord’s feet.
The basic error of the Pharisee is that he does not come into the presence of God. His mouth speaks with God, but his heart is far from Him. This we hear in his speech. He doesn’t talk about the relationship between himself and God, but he compares himself with other people. I’m not saying that it’s always wrong to compare oneself with others. The Lord in fact presents these two for us to see ourselves in them. But it should always be from the Lord’s point of view! Because the Pharisee does not know God’s righteousness and does not see the holy eyes that see him; because he knows no law but selfishness—indeed, note well, he knows God’s commandment of love, and yet he does not know it—so he seems righteous in his own eyes. In reality he is evil; he is proud, selfish, conceited, boastful, and unmerciful; but he is convinced that he is good and faithful, yes, even outstanding. Deplorable blindness! But that’s what man is like. Do you realize this? He thanks God that he is not like others, sinful and wretched, but God-fearing and holy according to the Law. And yet he is in fact worse than others and defiles God’s holy Law with his own self-made worship. But try to tell him this! Jesus in love exposed the Pharisees’ sins, with the result that they became His sworn enemies and thought that they had just cause for this. It is beyond telling with what babbling lies and self-deception the devil afflicts the miserable, self-righteous, and proud human heart. For God’s sake, pray the Lord to enlighten you! Perhaps you are “pious” and separate yourself from the world, because you think you are better than they. Or maybe you’re not “pious” and don’t want to belong among the “pious,” but you think you are better than such Pharisees. Pray the Lord, I urge you, whoever you are, pray the Lord to enlighten and humble you! Whether you are of the “pious” or not, you still may be Pharisees, and you are if the tax-collector’s prayer does not always touch your heart, does not always pour forth from your heart.
The Pharisee did not pray for grace and did not receive grace, but the tax-collector stood before God, knew his sin, prayed for grace, and was forgiven. The tax-collector didn’t compare himself with others; God is so vivid before him that he sees only himself and the Lord. If he were to compare himself with others, he would say: “I am the worst of all sinners.” His repentance is deep, and his prayer is sincere. You and I do not have such a deep sense of sin, and such a powerful prayer as he. But when you truly acknowledge yourself deserving of God’s wrath, sincerely pray God for mercy and really want to flee all sin, then you go “to your house justified” just like the tax-collector. You never become too good to pray: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” But this comfort is now for you in your grief over your poor Christianity. As long as the tax-collector’s prayer arises in your heart, then you are among the forgiven, justified children of God.
Closing Prayer
Give us this humility, Lord, this desire for grace, this prayer and this righteousness. Amen.
Hymn
O where for comfort shall I turn,
When I the past survey?
How oft I’ve dared Thy grace to spurn,
And cast my bliss away:
Yet Thine availing merit, Lord,
Deliverance and peace afford;
Thy Word is all my solace.
This Word, forever precious, saith
The humble, contrite mind
That looks to Thee in simple faith
Shall full salvation find;
And then, from sin’s dominion free,
Display true thankfulness to Thee,
Devoted to Thy glory.
Ringwaldt: Lord Jesus Christ, Thou highest Good! L 50:3-4 LHy 98:3-4 tr. F. W. Young;
tune: Adoration (LHy 98); alternate hymn: Wilt Thou forgive that sin ELH 498