YOUR FOCUS REVEALS YOUR HEART!

Saturday, April 25, 2020

YOUR FOCUS REVEALS YOUR HEART!

Luke 18:9-14

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 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.

           Do you see the difference between the Pharisee and the publican? The Pharisee was focused on himself. Actually, two views are offered to explain the phrase “stood and prayed thus with himself.” One says that he stood aloof from the despised tax collector. This would have been the characteristic stance of all Pharisees as they thought themselves to be more holy than others. Another view is that the Pharisee stood and rehearsed the good deeds he had done which he supposed would win him favor with God. Five times he begins with the letter “I” in reminding God that he was worthy of being blessed.

           The Publican [one employed in collecting taxes and therefore hated] would not even lift up his eyes. Wycliffe says: “The Pharisee stood in the center of the temple area, where he would be noticed; the publican crept into a corner crying ‘God be merciful to me, the sinner.’” The Pharisee reached into his pocket to find good works which would impress a God who he thought required them. The Publican reached into an empty pocket and asked for mercy by virtue of God’s grace.

           Jesus Himself pronounced the result when he 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.” How sinister is the pride that stands while the humble and broken stoop. How vile is the pride that dares to look God in the face and demand blessings based upon a list of works. How charming and polite is the one who fears even the presence of God but pleads for mercy. How blind is pride?

Dear Savior, I know that today I am not worthy of the least of Thy mercies, but I plead with you on the merits of Thy own Cross. AMEN