RPG Adults
PARABLE ON SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS – THE PUBLICAN
TUESDAY, JUNE 30
Luke 18:9-14
Memory verse: Luke 18:14
“…every one that exalteth himself
shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
PARABLE ON SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS – THE PUBLICAN
The publican began his approach toward God by standing afar off. He dared not go near God because he felt so unworthy. He knew he was the lowest in the society of the Jews. They despised him and regarded him as a traitor to their own people because he served the Roman masters as their tax collector. He had no status or standing in Jewish society. He was the scum of the earth to them. This was also probably how he saw himself. While he stood there, his eyes looked up to heaven, but his body was downcast. His demeanour was that of an unworthy, abject slave standing before the Almighty Holy God. He smote his breast, symbolic of a man in deep grief. His cry before God confirmed his broken spirit, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
His short prayer to God focused on God’s greatness, not his own. He asked God for mercy, knowing that he would not be alive if not for His mercy. He acknowledged that he could stand before God from afar with his eyes looking upward to heaven because of His mercy.
That was enough for Jesus to commend him. Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” The publican went home justified before God, i.e. God found him righteous. He was born again. Meanwhile, the Pharisee returned to his house, remaining unrighteous without realising it. He was not born again. Unless he repented and humbled himself like the publican, he would soon die in his sin and be cast into hell. This is the bane of religiosity when seminary and Bible College teachers think that since they teach the Bible, they must be born again. Their pride and foolish arrogance condemn them. They are the modern-day Pharisees.
The attitude of a born-again believer is humility; the only one he promotes and exalts is Jesus Christ, his Lord and Saviour. Like the publican, he knows that he is alive only because of God’s mercy bestowed on him, a most undeserving sinner, saved by God’s grace.
THOUGHT: Am I a Pharisee or a publican?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may I never forget that I am not consumed only because of Thy grace and mercy.