Trinity 11
Text: Luke 18:9-14
+INJ+
You’ve all probably experienced an individual that if you wanted to get them to do something, you needed to lead them into believing what you wanted done was actually their idea.
This is a familiar method leaders often use to get their way, and it can be pretty successful.
But I honestly don’t like this. I was encouraged to use this style of leadership with a person. But this particular person fed off this type of leadership; they wanted to be the most intelligent person in the room, they wanted to receive the accolades, they wanted to be at the center of attention, they wanted to say, I’m not like the other people here, just ask me.
So, what did all these desires lead them to? Pride.
No, I’m not speaking of the good kind of pride, the pride you have in your hometown or your military service; I’m speaking of the type that elevates oneself above others, the type that leads to sin.
The book of Proverbs touches on this as it is written,
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)
In some ways, this verse encapsulates the parable Jesus tells in our Gospel this morning.
There are two men who “went up into the Temple in order to pray.” They each desired to approach God. The first man Jesus says was a Pharisee. Pharisees were eager to keep God’s law and were often seen disputing with Jesus. Eventually, they joined in the plot to have Jesus crucified. But the Pharisees at the time were generally viewed as good, faithful, pious Jews.
However, they had a problem in their heart, which is what Jesus identifies today: The Pharisees thought of themselves as superior to others. They believed they could approach God and enter His favor through their works, accomplishments, and merit.
Five times, the Pharisee uses the first person in his prayer, “O 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.”
Desiring to distinguish between his life and those around him, he prays privately but within earshot of others so they may hear his prayers. He wants others to hear of his devotion, piety, and righteous life.
One thing to understand here is that Jewish prayers were traditionally done aloud. Now, what was the Pharisee trying to do with his prayer? He was giving a prayer of thanksgiving. But do you notice what he’s thanking God for? He’s thanking God for how good he was.
The “Pharisee is giving thanks for himself and not the gifts God has given him.” (Just, 682)
This man doesn’t see himself in need of forgiveness because he doesn’t see himself to be a sinner. In fact, he boasted that he was not from the same line as those sinners, those extortioners, adulterers, that is, people of this world, or, in the context of Jesus’ day, the dreaded Tax Collectors. No, he was different; he was on a different level from the rest of society. And if he fails at keeping the Law, well then, maybe he wasn’t doing enough.
It’s the deeds of the Pharisee that define and justify him, that make him holy.
As you hear this parable, you might be quick to separate yourself from the Pharisee. You’re probably doing it right now. You are thanking God that you are not like him.
And how could you be so self-righteous?
Are you that different?
How often have you said, “I’m glad I’m not that person,” or hung around individuals and flatly said, “I’m not like them?”
But we are, aren’t we? Misery loves company.
We, too, want our deeds to justify us, our church attendance, our giving, and our desire to simply be good human beings to be our justification throughout life.
But it cannot be our desire for our deeds to justify who we are before our heavenly Father. The commandments of our Lord cannot serve as a measuring stick for success while failing to recognize the sin that has corrupted each of us in our hearts. Instead, we must enter God’s presence by saying the words of the tax collector, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
These are the words of the dreaded tax collector.
It’s the tax collector that society saw as dishonest and self-serving, a true sinner.
But the fascinating thing that happens is that’s exactly what he admits to being as he said, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
His prayer before God is petitionary; he didn’t give thanks; instead, he petitioned God for the mercy he needed because of who he was: a transgressor.
Look at how the man approached God; his eyes were down in shame, much like a child who appears before their father seeking forgiveness after the window was broken, hurting a sibling, or having violated the rules of the house.
The Tax Collector was guilty of sin, guilty of breaking God’s command to love Him with his whole heart and to love neighbor as self.
Refraining from lifting his hands in prayer as was tradition, the tax collector beats his chest, committing his whole body and posture to the mourning of his sin, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
These are to be our words as well—our confession.
In a way, this is precisely what we said at the beginning of the Divine Service as we confessed our sins before God. However, we beat our chest by making the sign of the cross, touching our forehead, chest, and shoulders to remember the source of God’s mercy and forgiveness – the cross of Jesus.
Remember the Proverb,
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)
It’s on the cross where the true wisdom of the world is revealed in the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ for you.
So, look here to the tree of Calvary and see your Savior.
He did not die for himself; He died for you.
Then He rose again that you might have this great news of His victory within you, that by His Word, you would have life and salvation.
And this Word is amazing because it leads you away from your own selfish desires and the ways you want to look at others with disdain; it humbles you and brings you to the cross of Jesus to join the ranks of extortioners, adulterers, and Tax Collectors, confessing your sin with untied voice.
My friends, none of us are really that different when you get down to it. We’ve all been given different talents and abilities to help and support one another. And this is a gift, because no one has to be the smartest person in the room and no one has to do it all. Instead, we examine our hearts we learn how we are a united people in need of God’s mercy.
So do not lose hope as you journey through this life, nor your faith, for when you enter this sanctuary and find yourself looking to the ground in humility as you beat your chest in confession, it’s the cross of Jesus and His forgiveness that raises you not only you but everyone around you and it’s this life that will raise you on the last day too! +INJ+
