WHICH ONE AM I?
LUKE 18:9-14
#SpiritualPride
INTRODUCTION
I was reading and listening in the Gospel of Luke the other week and a parable of Jesus smacked me right in the heart. I am going to share the parable with you today and see if it smacks you as well. The passage comes right after a parable that Jesus teaches that is very hard to understand (Luke 18:1-8) and often needs some digging to fully understand. The parable we are going to focus on today is not hard to understand at all, but we often don’t think it applies to us. The parable that Jesus tells needs absolutely no explanation, but does need honest application in each of our lives. We will be in Luke 18 today. We will focus on the second parable Jesus teaches in this chapter.
This parable occurs in the middle of several other parables, significant teaching, and memorable events. Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem to die. Luke 16-19 all lead up to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, which we call the Triumphal Entry, in Luke 19. Think of this as happening two weeks before Jesus dies on the cross. There is a lot going on in this section of Luke:
#1 Parable of the Dishonest Manager (16:1-13)
#2 Teaching on Divorce and Remarriage (16:18)
#3 Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (16:19-31)… one of my favorites
#4 Cleansing of the Ten Lepers (17:11-19)
#5 Parable of the Persistent Widow (18:1-8)
#6 Jesus’ interaction with the Rich Young Ruler (18:18-30)
#7 Jesus heals a blind beggar (18:35-43)
#8 Jesus and Zacchaeus (19:1-10)
TRANSITION
In the middle of all of that teaching and travel and interaction we have Luke 18:9-14. Jesus tells a parable where we do not have to pray or dig for the meaning, but rather the beginning of the passage tells us right away what the meaning of the parable is about. Let’s read Luke 18:9-14.
VERSE 9: POINT OF THE PARABLE
READ LUKE 18:9 (ESV)
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.”
Honestly, we have to stop right there even after one verse. This parable will need very little explanation, but as I said, it will need honest application in our lives. Depending on how self-aware we are emotionally or spiritually, we may not see that Jesus is speaking directly to us.
The parable was directed: “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous.” That word “righteous” probably describes those who ritually kept the Law of God from the Old Testament. Jesus is talking to those who thought they were morally superior to others around them. There is a reason, in a moment, one of the people in the parable is a Pharisee. Pharisees were known for being super religious and very observant of all of God’s commands.
The parable was directed to those who not only considered themselves better than others, but: “treated others with contempt.” That word at the end of verse 9 is “contempt” (ESV, KJV, AMP, NASB) or “scorned” (TLB) which means to “utterly give no account” about someone. It is a pretty intense word. There is a reason, in a moment, that the other person in the parable is a tax collector. In Jesus’ day, tax collectors were considered traitors and thieves because of how Rome set up the tax system and had local people draining their neighbors’ pockets.
There are other examples of this same attitude in the teachings of Jesus and even in the life of Jesus that He experienced. I think about Jesus’ parable earlier in Luke (chapter 15) which we title the ‘Parable of the Prodigal Son.’ In that parable, the older brother felt morally superior to his younger brother who had sinned… and yet we see that the older brother was living in just as much error as his brother. I think about the religious leaders, like those in Matthew 23, that claimed moral and spiritual authority over Jesus and others and yet looked down on those they defined as sinners and even plotted to kill Jesus.
TRANSITION
Let’s keep reading. After we read, we will navigate a series of thoughts because as I thought and prayed about this parable, my mind went from one Truth to the next. As I studied and reflected about this parable, my thought process was much like one domino falling on another or one dot connecting to another. Let’s keep reading.
VERSES 10-14: PARABLE ABOUT SPIRITUAL PRIDE
READ LUKE 18:10-14 (ESV)
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 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!’ 14 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.”
The point of the parable is the contrast between the two men. It is not a contrast of their lifestyles, choice of work, or their families. It is not a contrast of their sin, church attendance, or how they spend their money. It is not even a contrast about the words they use to pray. It is a parable about the heart motivation of each person.
As I think about this parable, my mind goes to all the ways in which this passage can be applied in our lives. My life. Your life. Definitely in the lives of them sinners in our lives. It definitely applies to them!
I think about… how surrendered humility is essential before God because pride separates us from God. The tax collector had a humble posture and heart before the Lord which showed that he honored God as best he could. The words of his prayer showed a humble heart. Surrendered. Contrite. The Pharisee had pride-filled posture and heart before the Lord because he had his life together; felt good about following the religious rules. The words of his prayer weren’t necessarily focused on God, but on others around him. Arrogant. Holier than thou. Prideful.
* Which one am I?
* Which one are you?
I think about… how justification before God comes only by God’s mercy, not our merit. The word justification means that we have sinned, but God judges us not-guilty. I used to think that justification meant “just-as-if-I-never-sinned,” but I don’t think that anymore. My justification came at the cost of the innocent life of Jesus of Nazareth. Yes, I sinned. Yes, I still sin. Yes, I will sin in the future. No, God does not hold my sin against me, but not because Jesus magically made my sin disappear “as if I never did it.” I still did it. No, God does not hold my sin against me because His Son suffered and died paying for my willful arrogant self. The Pharisee thought he had good standing before God because he followed the rules. The tax collector was justified because he sought God’s mercy, not because he earned it through good deeds. Nobody’s good deeds get them right with God.
* Which one am I?
* Which one are you?
TRANSITION
Then my mind moves next to the most difficult part of applying this parable.
FOCUS: SPIRITUAL SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
As I reflect on the parable, I think about… how self-righteousness is spiritually dangerous. This is the part that really grinds on me revealing my true heart. The thing about self-righteousness is that it is a sneaky ugly worm that often goes unnoticed until it does much damage to us and to those around us. It is a shadow that likes to lurk in the background. Listen, thinking we are morally superior to others distances us from grace and leads to spiritual blindness. Here is how self-righteousness is so sneaky… are you ready? I’m not and I know what I am about to say! When I read the parable of Jesus in Luke 18:9-14, we are given two people: the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Here it comes… the moment I think to myself… “I am so glad I am not like the Pharisee” … I immediately become him. I thought I was doing a good thing by not being like the Pharisee. I. Am. Him.
Smack! I am him.
Smack! I act just like him towards poor people.
Smack! I act just like him towards people who live differently than me.
Smack! I act just like him towards folks who struggle with same sex attraction.
Smack! I act just like him towards someone whose sin gets revealed.
Smack! I act just like him when my sin stays hidden cause I am good at hiding things.
Smack! I act just like him with someone who votes differently than me.
Smack! The moment you are grateful you are not like the Pharisee you become him.
I hate that. Because I know he’s the bad example in the parable.
The reason I have a distaste for being the Pharisee is because comparison with others is spiritually unhelpful even though I think I am doing a good thing. The Pharisee judged himself as righteous by comparing himself to others, especially the tax collector. Here is the truth:
* Other people are not the standard of righteousness.
* God’s standard is the measure of righteousness.
I think about Romans 2 which says…
READ ROMANS 2:1 (ESV)
“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”
My initial thought with that verse is that it gives me permission to judge others when I know full well I am not doing the same things as them. Point. Missed. If that is how you and I read verses like this, then we are far worse than the Pharisee. In fact, that is exactly what the Pharisee was doing. Remember he said in verse 11: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men” for he actually wasn’t, but his sinfulness had crept deep into his heart.
* Other people are not the standard of righteousness.
* God’s standard is the measure of righteousness.
I think about 2 Corinthians 10 which says…
READ 2 CORINTHIANS 10:12 (ESV)
Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
When I make another person the standard of my relationship with God, I am without understanding. When I compare and contrast my life in Christ with other people in the church, I am doing myself and them a disservice. When I feel superior because of the work the Holy Spirit has done in my life, I actually am regressing.
* Other people are not the standard of righteousness.
* God’s standard is the measure of righteousness.
I think about 1 John 1 which says…
READ 1 JOHN 1:5-10 (ESV)
This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
The Apostle John shares with us that walking in the light with the Holy Spirit all the while claiming we have no issues is deception. We deceive ourselves. We deceive other people. We do not deceive God. Being spiritually aware of ourselves is important. Being spiritually aware of other people is important. Comparing the two is absolutely not necessary and is sinful.
* Other people are not the standard of righteousness.
* God’s standard is the measure of righteousness.
TRANSITION
My final thought as I looked through this parable was for some answers. At the moment, the opposite to spiritual self-righteousness is spiritual self-awareness. There may be other opposites, but that I where I am at for this moment. What does spiritual self-awareness look like? How do I develop that in myself as I cultivate my relationship with Christ? Some of the clues of what this means comes from the last part of the passage which we have yet to focus. It is in this part of the context of the parable where Jesus highlights a positive spiritual attitude.
RE-READ LUKE 18:15-17 (ESV)
15 Now they were bringing even infants to Him that He might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL SELF-AWARENESS
These last few verses in this section of Luke 18 shed some light on being spiritually self-aware. Jesus likens it to having childlike faith. By the way, childlike faith is not the same as childish faith. The Pharisee had childish faith. We should seek out self-aware faith.
To be spiritually aware as a believer in Jesus means to live with a conscious sensitivity to God's presence, guidance, and truth in our daily lives with the Bible as the God-given standard. What would that have looked like for the Pharisee?
What would that have looked like for the tax collector?
What does that look like for us?
First, I think spiritual self-awareness involves listening for the Holy Spirit amongst all the other voices and noises that assault us every day. As I reflect on Jesus words about children, I note that children must listen. Our world fills our hearts and minds with useless noise and messages that draw us away from God. Satan wants us confused, spiritually tired, and unable to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Our heart’s desire should be to listen to our Heavenly Father and not listen to those influences that would draw us away from Him. Spiritual awareness includes being sensitive to the promptings and convictions of the Holy Spirit. John 16-17 share with us that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor and the One Who convicts us and keeps us on track. Spiritual growth or repentance or joy comes from the Holy Spirit. None of that requires looking down on someone else.
Second, I think spiritual self-awareness involves understanding Scripture deeply. As I reflect on Jesus words about children, I note that children are constantly learning lessons of all kinds. A spiritually aware person does not just read the Bible, but studies the Bible individually and takes opportunities to study with other believers. Spiritually aware Christians don’t just read the Bible, but they absorb it and more importantly apply it. Reading the Bible with questions, prayer, and reflection is an important part of seeing ourselves clearly and seeing God clearly. None of that requires judging ourselves better than others.
Third, I think spiritual self-awareness involves cultivating a heart for others without any comparison. As I reflect on Jesus words about children, I note we often tell them to go make friends and to be nice to people they meet. We do not expect all children to be the same. (Yes, teachers, I know standardized tests exist and I know they are a problem!) We try and teach our kids to accept others, help others along, and be a good neighbor. Then we grow up and pray: “Thank You God that I’m not like them.” We need to become more aware of the spiritual needs of others. This includes empathy, intercessory prayer, and a desire to serve others as Christ did. None of that requires comparison.
SUMMARY
In summary, spiritual self-awareness (I don’t even like that term) as a believer in Jesus means living in tune with God. It means seeing with spiritual eyes, hearing with spiritual ears, and responding with a heart that seeks to love and obey Him. It does not mean seeing others with eyes, listening to others with ears, and then responding with a judgmental attitude based on what we see and hear.
Listening for the Holy Spirit.
Understanding Scripture deeply.
A heart for others without comparison.
THE POINT: None of us are as righteous as we think we are.
PRAYER
INVITATION
As we close today, I want to point out one more aspect of the parable that is worth mentioning. In Jesus’ parable, there are two men. We have pretty much focused on the Pharisee this morning. The Tax Collector is also important. The Tax Collector’s brokenness lead to justification before God and to a right relationship. The Tax Collector is a picture of how sincere repentance leads to being made right with God.
Is that where you are at this morning?
When we confess: “‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” God responds with grace and the offer of covering by the blood of Jesus Christ. If you need to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, start with thinking about those words: “‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” I’d love to invite you to have a conversation if that is where you are at!
