Verses 9-10 This story is a conviction for those who trust in themselves for righteousness. They’ve marked off all the religious check boxes and deem themselves right with God because of it. Conceited, proud of their own goodness and holiness, they might think of themselves as better than others. An example for others to live up to.
Works-based Theology
This crowd is confident in their own works, has a high opinion of their own righteousness, and depends on their own efforts whenever they come to God with a request. They justify in their minds that they deserve good things. As if God is in debt for all they accomplish and now owes them a reward. This is called “works-based” theology. It says that God’s movement in our lives depends on our work and check marks. Those who thought this way also looked at others with contempt and as “not worthy” in comparison.
Jesus is about to show how foolish this thinking is and how people who do this are really shutting themselves off from acceptance with God.
Our Goodness Doesn’t Move God
A Pharisee and a tax collector went to the temple to pray.
Our temple today is Jesus, whom we go to and through to approach the throne of God.
The Pharisees were law-abiding citizens, very strict in practicing religion. The common people considered them the epitome of godliness. Meanwhile, the tax collectors were vile sinners. They were Jews who collected taxes from their own people on behalf of the Roman empire, and they often took extra to line their own pockets. They were extortionists.
Appearances For Applause
The Pharisees liked to pray in public places where people can applaud their devotion to God. These religious leaders wanted their works noticed. They came to make an appearance, whereas the tax collector came to make requests to God. Our Father sees the heart and will judge us accordingly.
In Luke, chapter 13, we read about how surprising heaven will be when we see who actually makes it in. God will shut out those who seem religious on the outside but have no humility or heart connection.
Selfish Requests Versus Real Prayer
Verses 11-12 While in the temple, the Pharisee made his business before God all about himself and spent his prayer comparing himself to other sinners. He had his eye on himself and not on God at all. The Pharisee thanked God for his own generosity, fairness, kindness, justice in all his dealings, sanctification, and honor. He dwells with delight on how good he is and doesn’t utter a single real prayer. He is so full of himself and thinks he does not need the favor or grace from God.
His pride confined him to a prison of performance.
The merits he listed went on and on. He praised God that he had fulfilled his own religious obligations like fasting, praying, and tithing, and was not like sinners—especially the tax collector.
He used other people as a standard of righteousness. Do we compare ourselves to others and determine our own goodness based on their badness?
Comparing our best with someone’s worst doesn’t move God.
And since this Pharisee surpassed all of them, he celebrated his own virtue. Since he was “better” than everyone else, he assumed he was pleasing to God.
The worse others look, the better he feels about himself.
These practices are good things. But they are nothing to boast about compared to God Almighty!
Verse 13 Meanwhile, the tax collector stayed at a distance burdened because he felt unworthy of coming to God. Standing “far off” at the outer edges of the temple, broken in shame and humility, he struggled to approach God. This tax collector recognized he was a sinner and was remorseful. He lifted his heart with holy desires to God, but didn’t have the courage to lift his eyes.
Humility & Repentance Moves God’s Mercy More Than Our Merits Or Goodness
His prayer was brief. Fear and shame hindered him from saying much. Sighs and groans swallowed up his words. Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector didn’t praise himself, but struck his chest and begged for God’s mercy.
Since God himself is a standard of righteousness, the tax collector knew he fell far short. He desires God and came to repent. His only hope was God’s grace.
Our lives rest on God’s infinite mercy.
There is no amount of merit deserving mercy. His justice finds us all guilty of sin and sentences all pride and shame to the shackles of our own misery. But mercy, by the blood of Jesus, took our place so that we might know the unfailing, forgiving love of our Creator. His love reconciles us to the Father. Our freedom depends on this mercy. It is our refuge.
Verse 14 Jesus can see the desires and secrets in our hearts. Jesus declared this humble, broken-hearted tax collector righteous. And Jesus rejected the self-professed righteous Pharisee.
The tax collector understood he was a simple man before a holy God, and he humbled himself in God’s sight, pleading for mercy so that he might find salvation and restoration.
The Pharisee compared himself to other sinners and elevated his own worth. He assumed his self-sufficiency would save him. But God accepted nothing he said.
Had this Pharisee compared himself with God’s character, he would’ve realized that he — like the tax collector — was a sinner.
God’s glory is to resist the proud and give grace to the humble. He can bring good out of evil.
Great sin brings great repentance.
Satan intends to squeeze evil out of good people. Pride will always rival God for the first position of praise.
Jesus extends grace to the humble, not the proud.
”I would rather be a nobody at Christ’s feet than a somebody anywhere else.” Charles Spurgeon
Let the little children come to me
Verses 15-17 Parents blessed by Jesus bring their babies and children as a living sacrifice to receive a blessing. We should dedicate our children to Jesus while they are young.
As parents brought their infants to Jesus so he might touch and bless them, the disciples rebuked them. They thought this would bring lots of work and trouble to Jesus.
But Jesus rebuked the disciples right back: let the little children come to me.
Let’s pause right here for a moment. Are there excuses holding back our requests to Jesus? Do we edit our requests because we don’t want to trouble Jesus with all the minor concerns, or too many requests? We’re never troubling Jesus. He invites us to bring all of it. Even children should bring every little worry to Jesus.
Jesus used the opportunity to illustrate this is the state of mind we must have to enter the kingdom and receive God’s blessings.
A humble heart receives God’s blessings with thanksgiving.
God‘s kingdom is only available to those who receive it like a little child. Children bring nothing to the table (no merits or good deeds) but their own weakness, need, and dependency. They cannot buy their way, but must inherit it as a gift. In the same way, we come to God through Jesus Christ, entirely dependent on him for both acceptance and blessing.
Prayer
Have mercy on me, Jesus. I am a sinner, disobedient, and desperate for a change in my life. My skills, talents, education, experience, religious practices, or any good thing found in me do not equip and prepare me for heaven’s gates. I come only by your merciful blood, Jesus, that covers my sin and clothes me in your righteousness. I have nothing to compare myself to but you, Jesus, who is my standard and sits at the gates. When I look at you, I see how filthy my sins are and how dire my situation is without your mercy. I need you more than I know. I humbly come to you as a child who continues to seek their parent for help, holding, and attention. Strengthen me with your enduring patience that produces character. Equip me for every good work you’ve called me to, Lord. Comfort me in my failures, my pain, my hurt. Encourage my spirit in your Word and help me recall your wisdom in times of need. When trouble finds me, gird me with awareness and prayer to rebuke Satan’s burdening schemes of frustration and anger. Holy Spirit, I desperately need your filling. There is nothing good in me. I must have you. Thank you for graciously supplying all my needs according to your riches in heaven, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.