Humility and Righteousness: Lessons from Two Prayers
Summary
In today's reflection on the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, we delve into the profound contrast between two men in prayer, highlighting the essence of humility and the danger of self-righteousness. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, thanks God for his perceived superiority over others, including the tax collector. He lists his religious accomplishments, believing they justify him before God. In stark contrast, the tax collector stands at a distance, unable to even lift his eyes to heaven, and simply pleads for God's mercy, acknowledging his sinfulness.
This parable is a powerful reminder of the dangers of trusting in our own righteousness. The Pharisee's mistake lies in his belief that his religious deeds and moral superiority could earn him justification before God. This reflects a common misconception that many hold today, thinking that faith must be supplemented with personal merit to achieve salvation. However, the essence of justification is not found in our deeds but in God's grace and mercy. The tax collector, despite his societal status as a sinner, understands this truth. His humble plea for mercy is met with divine justification, illustrating that true righteousness is imputed by God, not earned by human effort.
The parable challenges us to examine our own hearts and motivations. Are we like the Pharisee, relying on our achievements and comparing ourselves to others, or do we approach God with the humility of the tax collector, recognizing our need for His mercy? The message is clear: those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. This is a call to embrace the grace of God, acknowledging that our justification is solely through the righteousness of Christ, not our own.
Key Takeaways:
- The Danger of Self-Righteousness: The Pharisee's prayer reveals a heart that trusts in personal achievements rather than God's grace. This self-righteousness blinds us to our true spiritual condition and distances us from God. True justification comes not from our deeds but from God's mercy. [06:29]
- The Essence of Justification: Justification is not about our inherent righteousness but about God's declaration of righteousness through faith in Christ. The tax collector's plea for mercy exemplifies the humility required to receive God's grace. [15:39]
- The Role of the Law: The law serves as a mirror, revealing God's holiness and our sinfulness. It is meant to drive us to Christ, not to be a tool for self-justification. The Pharisee's misuse of the law highlights the danger of legalism. [04:59]
- Imputed Righteousness: Our justification is based on the righteousness of Christ, not our own. This alien righteousness is credited to us through faith, underscoring the futility of relying on personal merit for salvation. [16:42]
- Humility Before God: The tax collector's humble posture and plea for mercy demonstrate the attitude God desires. True exaltation comes through humility, acknowledging our need for God's grace and forgiveness. [22:03]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Introduction to the Parable
[01:16] - The Pharisee's Prayer
[01:58] - Themes of the Parable
[02:42] - The Mixed Body of the Church
[03:32] - The Pharisees' Background
[04:17] - Misunderstanding the Law
[05:46] - Justification by Segregation
[06:29] - The Pharisee's Self-Righteousness
[07:52] - The Tax Collector's Reputation
[08:43] - Misconceptions of Justification
[10:10] - Trusting in Achievements
[11:47] - God's Standard of Perfection
[13:18] - Evaluating Our Deeds
[14:41] - The Tax Collector's Humility
[16:42] - The Concept of Imputation
[18:04] - The Necessity of Christ's Righteousness
[19:35] - The Essence of Forgiveness
[22:03] - Exaltation Through Humility
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 18:9-14
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the key differences in the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector as described in the parable? [01:16]
2. How does the Pharisee's prayer reflect his attitude towards others and himself? [06:29]
3. What does the tax collector's posture and plea reveal about his understanding of his own spiritual condition? [14:41]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the tax collector going home justified? [19:35]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Pharisee's reliance on his own righteousness contrast with the tax collector's plea for mercy? What does this reveal about their understanding of justification? [08:43]
2. In what ways does the parable challenge the common misconception that faith must be supplemented with personal merit for salvation? [10:10]
3. How does the concept of imputed righteousness, as explained in the sermon, redefine the basis of our justification before God? [16:42]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of humility in our relationship with God and others? [22:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own prayer life. Do you find yourself more often in the position of the Pharisee or the tax collector? How can you cultivate a more humble approach in your prayers? [14:41]
2. The Pharisee compared himself to others to justify his righteousness. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself doing the same? How can you shift your focus to God's grace instead? [06:29]
3. The sermon emphasizes the danger of self-righteousness. Can you identify a time when you relied on your own achievements rather than God's grace? How did that impact your spiritual journey? [08:43]
4. How can the understanding of imputed righteousness change the way you view your relationship with God and your own efforts to live a righteous life? [16:42]
5. The tax collector's humility led to his justification. What practical steps can you take to embrace humility in your daily interactions and spiritual practices? [22:03]
6. Consider the role of the law as a mirror, as mentioned in the sermon. How does this perspective influence your understanding of sin and the need for a Savior? [04:59]
7. The sermon warns against trusting in personal merit for salvation. How can you ensure that your faith remains centered on Christ's righteousness rather than your own works? [10:10]
Devotional
Day 1: The Peril of Self-Reliance
The Pharisee in the parable exemplifies the danger of self-righteousness, where one trusts in personal achievements rather than God's grace. This self-reliance blinds individuals to their true spiritual condition and creates a barrier between them and God. The Pharisee's prayer is a reflection of a heart that is more concerned with outward appearances and comparisons with others than with genuine humility before God. True justification, however, is not a result of our deeds but is granted through God's mercy. This serves as a caution against the temptation to measure our worth by our accomplishments or moral superiority. [06:29]
Isaiah 64:6 (ESV): "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself relying on your own achievements for validation? How can you shift your focus to rely more on God's grace today?
Day 2: The Heart of Justification
Justification is not about our inherent righteousness but about God's declaration of righteousness through faith in Christ. The tax collector's plea for mercy exemplifies the humility required to receive God's grace. Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector acknowledges his sinfulness and his need for God's mercy, which leads to divine justification. This highlights the truth that our standing before God is not based on our merit but on His grace. It challenges us to approach God with a heart that is open to His transformative power, recognizing that our righteousness is a gift from Him. [15:39]
Titus 3:5 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of humility that acknowledges your need for God's mercy? What steps can you take to deepen your faith in Christ's righteousness rather than your own?
Day 3: The Law as a Mirror
The law serves as a mirror, revealing God's holiness and our sinfulness. It is meant to drive us to Christ, not to be a tool for self-justification. The Pharisee's misuse of the law highlights the danger of legalism, where one attempts to earn God's favor through adherence to rules. This approach misses the purpose of the law, which is to point us to our need for a Savior. By understanding the law's true role, we can better appreciate the grace offered through Christ and avoid the pitfalls of legalism. [04:59]
Galatians 3:24 (ESV): "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith."
Reflection: In what ways have you used rules or standards to justify yourself before God or others? How can you allow the law to guide you to a deeper reliance on Christ?
Day 4: The Gift of Imputed Righteousness
Our justification is based on the righteousness of Christ, not our own. This alien righteousness is credited to us through faith, underscoring the futility of relying on personal merit for salvation. The concept of imputed righteousness is central to understanding our relationship with God, as it shifts the focus from our efforts to Christ's finished work on the cross. This truth invites us to rest in the assurance of our salvation, knowing that it is secure in Christ's righteousness. [16:42]
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: How does the understanding of imputed righteousness change your perspective on your relationship with God? What practical steps can you take to live in the freedom of Christ's righteousness?
Day 5: Embracing Humility Before God
The tax collector's humble posture and plea for mercy demonstrate the attitude God desires. True exaltation comes through humility, acknowledging our need for God's grace and forgiveness. This humility is not about self-deprecation but about recognizing our dependence on God for everything. By embracing humility, we open ourselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit and align ourselves with God's purposes. It is through this posture that we find true exaltation in God's kingdom. [22:03]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle with pride or self-sufficiency? How can you practice humility in that area today, inviting God's grace to work in and through you?
Quotes
"This is a very brief, and in fact simple parable that Jesus gives, but we're told at the beginning of it why He gave it and to whom it was addressed. Notice He said he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and they despised others." [00:01:41]
"And the Pharisees, whose name means 'set apart ones,' committed themselves, in spite of what everybody else was doing as they were being secularized, that they were going to be totally devoted to keeping the law of God in an effort to restore righteousness to the land, and godliness to the people." [00:03:53]
"The apostle Paul teaches us in the New Testament that the primary function of the law of God is to act as a mirror, that when we look at that mirror, it reveals to us, in the first place, the holiness of God and our unholiness in contrast to God." [00:04:39]
"And we see here that this Pharisee has the audacity to thank God for his superiority. Now, actually, he's quoting a portion of a prayer that was found in the Talmud among the Jewish people, where the leaders were instructed to thank God for their station in life, that they enjoyed being one of the set apart ones." [00:05:59]
"The first thing that we understand about this Pharisee is that he has a seriously distorted understanding of what justification requires. Here's a man who thought that to be justified in the sight of God could be accomplished by one's own achievement of righteousness." [00:08:17]
"People assume that God grades on a curve. And as long as my sin is not as pernicious as my neighbor, I can be happy about my own performance. The apostle Paul warned that those who judge themselves by themselves and judge themselves among themselves are not wise." [00:10:41]
"As the psalmist asked, 'Oh God, if thou would mark iniquities, who would stand?' That's a rhetorical question. The answer is clear. No one of us could possibly pass the bar of God's justice, based upon our performance." [00:11:49]
"The Pharisee brought his fasting in his hand. He brought his tithing in his hand. He brought his status and his standing in the church in his hand, where the tax collector -- his hand was empty. He had nothing, nothing to contribute to his own salvation. All he had was a plea for mercy -- 'Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.'" [00:15:18]
"The concept of imputation means that our justification in the presence of God is founded and grounded on a righteousness that is not our own. It's what Luther called a justitiam alien -- an alien righteousness, a righteousness extra nos, a righteousness outside of ourselves, a righteousness accomplished only by Christ, the only one who ever kept the law perfectly throughout His life." [00:16:34]
"Now, what is this mercy of justification? And what was this publican looking for? The very essence of justification, dear friends, is forgiveness. What happens in justification is that God pronounces a person just who in and of himself is not just, but with that pronouncement grants the remission of sin." [00:19:50]
"Paul deals with this doctrine of justification in Romans. After he explains it all, he says, 'Therefore, being justified,' that is justification is something that has already taken place, 'we have peace with God, and access into his presence.' The Pharisee had status, but he was still at war with God." [00:20:47]
"Jesus said, 'He went home, an adopted son of God. He went home forgiven. He went to his house justified.' And Jesus warns all of us who hear this prayer that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, that those who humble themselves will be exalted." [00:21:47]
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