Humility, Righteousness, and the Call to Change

Devotional

Day 1: Humility before God leads to true justification

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reminds us that God values a humble heart over outward displays of righteousness. The Pharisee boasts of his good deeds and looks down on others, while the tax collector, aware of his own shortcomings, simply asks for mercy. Jesus teaches that it is the humble, not the self-righteous, who are justified before God. This challenges us to examine our own hearts and approach God with honesty and humility, trusting in His grace rather than our own achievements. [29:16]

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflection: When was the last time you honestly admitted your need for God’s mercy rather than relying on your own good works or comparisons to others?

Day 2: God’s light shines through us, transforming our brokenness

Just as a pumpkin is cleaned out and filled with light, God removes the “ick” of sin from our lives and fills us with His light, enabling us to shine for others. This transformation is not something we achieve on our own, but a gift from God who delights in making us new. When we allow God to work within us, our lives become a testimony to His grace, and we are empowered to share that light with the world around us. [31:53]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: What is one way you can let God’s light shine through you to someone in your life today?

Day 3: The call to change is central to our faith

Being a people of the Reformation means remembering that change is not only possible but necessary for growth in our faith and community. God calls us to be open to transformation, both personally and collectively, so that we can better reflect His love and welcome others. Change can be uncomfortable, but it is through change that we become more like Christ and create a more inclusive and loving community. [33:58]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: What is one area in your life or in our church where you sense God inviting you to embrace change for the sake of others?

Day 4: Righteousness is a gift from God, not something we earn

True righteousness is not about being right or following rules perfectly, but about receiving God’s grace and living in faithful relationship with Him. We are freed by God’s gift of righteousness—not self-righteousness—so that we can serve God and our neighbors with humility and love. This gift calls us to let go of our need to always be right and instead focus on embodying Christ’s justice, peace, and compassion. [41:23]

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself striving to “earn” God’s approval, and how can you rest more fully in His gift of grace?

Day 5: Letting go of the need to be right opens us to growth

The drive to always be right can lead us to judge others and close ourselves off from learning and growing. When we admit that we don’t have to be right, we open ourselves to God’s work of transformation and become more welcoming to others. This humility allows us to listen, to change, and to become the community God desires—a place where all are invited to experience His love and grace. [40:40]

James 3:17-18 (ESV)
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Reflection: Think of a recent disagreement or moment of stubbornness—how might letting go of your need to be right have changed the outcome or deepened your relationships?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, inviting us to examine the difference between being “right” and being “righteous.” The story presents two men at prayer: one, a Pharisee, confidently lists his religious achievements and thanks God that he is not like others; the other, a tax collector, stands at a distance, humbly asking for mercy. Both are engaged in acts of faith, yet Jesus points to the tax collector as the one who goes home justified. This challenges us to consider the posture of our hearts before God and others.

The parable is not simply about two individuals, but about a universal human tendency: the drive to be right, to justify ourselves, and to look down on others. This drive, while sometimes rooted in good intentions, can lead us away from the humility and openness that God desires. The temptation to cling to our own correctness—whether in matters of faith, tradition, or daily life—can cause division, both within ourselves and in our communities.

Drawing on the spirit of the Reformation, we are reminded that change is possible and even necessary. The Reformation itself was not about creating division for its own sake, but about seeking a more authentic relationship with God, rooted in grace and humility. Jesus did not come to establish a new religion, but to reform hearts and call us back to the essentials: loving God, loving ourselves, and loving our neighbors. He challenges us to let go of rigid traditions and self-righteousness, and instead to embrace humility, justice, and peace.

Righteousness, as revealed in Christ, is not something we achieve by being right or by our own efforts. It is a gift from God, freeing us to serve others and to be transformed. When we let go of the need to always be right, we open ourselves to growth, to reconciliation, and to becoming a more welcoming and loving community. The call is not to self-righteousness, but to the righteousness that comes from God—a righteousness marked by humility, faithfulness, and a willingness to change for the sake of others.

Key Takeaways

1. True righteousness is rooted in humility, not in self-justification. The Pharisee’s prayer was full of self-congratulation, while the tax collector’s was marked by honest humility. God honors the heart that recognizes its need for mercy over the one that boasts in its own achievements. [38:43]
2. The drive to be right can blind us to the needs and humanity of others. When we focus on proving ourselves correct, we risk losing sight of compassion and the call to love our neighbor. This tendency can fracture relationships and communities, making us less open to God’s transforming work. [39:22]
3. Change is not only possible, but essential for spiritual growth. The Reformation reminds us that faith is dynamic, and that God calls us to continual reformation of our hearts and practices. Embracing change requires courage and humility, but it is through change that we become more faithful witnesses to Christ. [33:58]
4. Jesus calls us to focus on the essentials: loving God, ourselves, and our neighbors. He challenges traditions and rituals that distract from these core commandments, urging us to examine whether our practices foster love and justice or simply reinforce our own sense of being right. [36:42]
5. Righteousness is a gift from God, not a reward for our efforts. We do not earn God’s favor by being right or by our religious deeds; rather, we are freed by grace to serve others. Letting go of the need to be right opens us to God’s grace and to the possibility of genuine transformation. [41:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:16] - The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
[30:35] - Children’s Message: The Pumpkin and God’s Light
[31:53] - God’s Light Shining Through Us
[32:35] - Reformation Day: Why Celebrate?
[33:19] - The Diversity of Protestantism
[33:58] - The Challenge and Gift of Change
[34:40] - Disagreements and Divisions in Church History
[36:00] - Modern Divisions and the Call of Jesus
[36:42] - Jesus’ Focus on Love Over Tradition
[37:24] - Reformation Scripture: Romans and Justification by Faith
[38:04] - The Overlooked Parable for Reformation
[38:43] - Who Is Justified? Humility vs. Self-Righteousness
[39:59] - The Human Drive to Be Right
[41:23] - Called to Righteousness, Not Just Being Right
[42:04] - The Freedom to Change and Serve Others

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector—Being Right vs. Being Righteous

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Bible Reading

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Observation Questions

What are the differences in the way the Pharisee and the tax collector pray in the parable? ([29:16])
According to Jesus, which man went home justified, and why? ([38:43])
In the sermon, what examples are given of things the Pharisee does that seem “good” or religious? ([38:04])
What does the tax collector do or say that shows humility in his prayer? ([29:16])

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Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus say that the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, is justified before God? What does this teach about God’s priorities? ([38:43])
The sermon says both men are doing things God calls them to do, but only one is justified. What does this suggest about the importance of our attitude and heart posture in faith? ([39:22])
The drive to be “right” is described as a universal human tendency. How can this drive get in the way of our relationship with God and others? ([39:59])
The sermon connects the parable to the Reformation and the idea of continual change. Why is change described as essential for spiritual growth? ([33:58])

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Application Questions

The Pharisee’s prayer was full of self-congratulation, while the tax collector’s was marked by honest humility. When you pray, do you find yourself focusing more on your achievements or on your need for God’s mercy? What would it look like to pray with more humility? ([38:43])
The sermon warns that the drive to be right can blind us to the needs and humanity of others. Can you think of a recent time when your need to be right hurt a relationship or made you less compassionate? What could you have done differently? ([39:59])
The Reformation is described as a reminder that change is possible and necessary. Is there an area in your faith or church life where you feel resistant to change? What might God be inviting you to reconsider or reform? ([33:58])
Jesus calls us to focus on loving God, ourselves, and our neighbors, rather than just following traditions. Are there any traditions or habits in your life that might be getting in the way of loving others well? ([36:42])
The sermon says righteousness is a gift from God, not something we earn. Do you ever feel pressure to “earn” God’s favor by being right or doing good things? How can you remind yourself to rest in God’s grace this week? ([41:23])
The pastor encouraged the congregation to say, “I don’t have to be right.” How easy or hard is it for you to admit when you’re wrong? What helps you let go of the need to always be right? ([40:40])
The sermon ends by asking, “What is more important: to be right or to be righteous?” How would your daily life look different if you focused more on being righteous (humble, open, loving) than on being right? ([42:04])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for humility, openness to change, and the grace to love others as God loves us. Ask God to help each person let go of self-righteousness and embrace the gift of true righteousness that comes from Him.

Sermon Clips

Not just because I am a hardcore Lutheran to my core, but because I think a reminder of who we are as a Reformation people is always a good thing. It is a reminder that while it may be difficult, we are capable of change. [00:33:44]

I know that's a scary word, right? We are capable of change in our church. We are capable of change in our society. It's a feat that seems nearly impossible sometimes. And this isn't and shouldn't be just a reminder for Lutheran. [00:34:08]

While we were the first group to successfully break away from the Catholic Church, we were far from the last. While there isn't really an exact number, it is estimated that there are around 9,000 Protestant denominations worldwide [00:34:27]

In seminary, we got to study all kinds of fun things about church history. And one of them was what the early reformers agreed on and didn't agree on. It was these disagreements that started the splintering off of new Protestant denominations away from Lutheranism. [00:35:02]

These arguments were over things like the true presence of Christ in the communion elements. predestination or whether or not humans had free will. These disagreements launched wars and divided families. In our modern church, we see issues like [00:35:28]

The ordination of women, human sexuality, and political allegiances dividing denominations and creating these smaller independent churches and pop popularizing non-denominational churches. But if you really look into the things that divide us as modern Christians, [00:35:50]

They seem almost trivial when we look at our faith through the lens of Jesus. Jesus himself did not seek to create a new religion but to reform the religion of his culture and his ancestors. His ministry led with the ideas of love [00:36:14]

God, love yourself and love your neighbor. And ultimately those three versions of love became our great commandment. He doesn't lay down rules about worship or ritual or insist that we keep up certain traditions. [00:36:36]

In fact, he challenges the status quo at every turn and encourages us to look at the world from a different perspective. You might have noticed that we didn't read the usual Reformation Day gospel from John that comes around every year. [00:36:57]

It is the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee. Two men who are in the same temple praying to God, but they are praying two very different prayers. One is listing all the ways he worships God through fasting, worship, and generous giving to the temple, thanking [00:38:12]

And the other is praying for grace and forgiveness, proclaims to all around him that he is a sinner. Now Jesus wraps up the parable by saying that those who are humble will be exalted and those who brag about their deeds will be humbled. [00:38:37]

But it is difficult to determine who is in the right and who is in the wrong. The Pharisee is doing good things in his life of faith. He's giving to the temple. He is participating in a spiritual practice. And the tax collector is calling out to God for forgiveness as he confesses to being a [00:38:57]

Technically, both of these men are doing what God calls them to do, even if the Pharisee could use a slice of humble pie. Right? Ultimately though, this is not a story about a Pharisee and a tax collector [00:39:23]

So much as it's a story about the deeply human drive to be right above all else. And the way such a drive leads us to look at our neighbors suspiciously, causing us to lose who we are called to be in the process. [00:39:40]

This drive and desire to be right is one of our more detrimental human patterns. While there certainly are many things in this world that are objectively wrong and objectively right, most things call for us to show some flexibility in our thinking and our willingness to change. [00:39:59]

To be righteous, we must look to the example of Jesus who was the most righteous of all. It means to be humble in our actions, to be faithful to God and keep God close and to work for justice and peace for all people. Righteousness like justification and [00:41:31]

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Humility, Righteousness, and the Call to Change

Devotional

Day 1: Humility before God leads to true justification

Day 2: God’s light shines through us, transforming our brokenness

Day 3: The call to change is central to our faith

Day 4: Righteousness is a gift from God, not something we earn

Day 5: Letting go of the need to be right opens us to growth

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Humility, Righteousness, and the Call to Change

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