Written ~ 03-26-2024
Read Luke Chapter Eighteen
Luke 18
Very first thing we are going to start off with is a key verse from our chapter today…
Luke 18:1b where Jesus says,
“…we should always pray and never give up…”
Luke chapter 18 Jesus starts us off with a parable about a women who was persistent in her need for justice. She would badger the judge consistently until he finally heard her complaint and justice was given. This woman did not give up. Jesus compared this story to how we should pray to the Father. Our prayers are to be consistent and persistent. Praying the Will of God over our lives should be a regular practice. But we shouldn’t give up when we don’t see the answers come in our own timing. Verse 18:8b says in The Message Version…
8b “But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when He returns?”
Our faith and trust is increased when we are consistent in our prayers. Don’t give up! God is listening. Be persistent and don’t let your faith waver, be strong until the very end!
Now let’s look closely at the parable Jesus tells us in verses 18:9-14…
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give You a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’
14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
This story tells us about two very different men coming to the Lord in two completely different ways. I would hope most of us wouldn’t see ourselves in the Pharisee, but let’s examine his attitude in prayer.
Pharisees were known to be very judgmental and proud. They thought of themselves as much better than others. They looked down their noses at people who didn’t fit into their idea of worthiness. They followed very strict rules and self-made traditions and condemned anyone who didn’t do as they said. When in prayer they brought that same attitude to the Lord, as if God would understand their position and set them on a higher pedestal. The Pharisees would try so hard to exalt themselves, even in their prayers. Can you imagine telling God that you shouldn’t be compared to other people because they are sinners! Boy, they really had a twisted sense about who they thought they were and who God was! In this Pharisee’s prayer he pointed his finger at “those sinners” and bragged about his fasting routine and tithing habits. Nothing in what he said to the Lord honored or gave glory to the Almighty God, instead he wanted all honor and glory for himself.
It says in Romans 3:23-24,
23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.”
The Pharisees did not include themselves in the “everyone has sinned.” This Pharisee has chosen to exalt himself above everyone else.
Next we have the tax collector. In those times, the tax collector was hated by most everyone. For the most part they were cheats and took advantage of their position whenever they could. In our story for today, we see a tax collector who has come to the realization that he is a sinner and in serious need of forgiveness. His posture and attitude coming to the Lord in prayer is the complete opposite of what we see the Pharisee doing. The Pharisee stood in a place where he could be the most visible, he wanted everyone to know he was praying. But the tax collector was in the distance with his head bowed and eyes to the ground, he didn’t try to draw attention to himself while he prayed.
This tax collector understood he was a sinner. And asked God for mercy. In verse 18:13 it says “…he beat his chest in sorrow…” This was a man who came to the Lord completely broken and in need of forgiveness and Salvation. This is the epidemy of what a humble prayer looks like.
You and I are sinners, we have been saved by the grace of God when He sent His Son to die on the cross for us. When we come to that realization and go to the Lord in prayer with that in mind, that sin and shame is lifted. We go away from that kind of prayer cleansed and free. The Pharisee in our story did not receive any glory, he did not receive any accolades for his self-righteous behavior, nothing changed in his heart. Therefore, he did not go away cleansed and free, it’s probable that even more sinful behavior was loaded onto his soul that day.
What attitude do you go to the Lord with? Do you honor Him with your attitude? Do you recognize your sinful nature and ask for forgiveness? Do you see that maybe your faith and trust is wavering? Are your prayers consistent and persistent? Are your prayers humble? Are your prayers full of praise to the Father for His grace and mercy?
Verse 18:14 says,
14 “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Humble yourself before the Lord and you will be saved! You will be forgiven! A humbled heart will be exalted by the Lord!
~AMEN~