The Sinner's Prayer Series

The tax collector’s breast suffered the most, more than his feet and eyes. He carried out the old practice of beating one’s breast to express grief. He pounded his chest with his palm, fist, and blows. The word “beat” in Greek characterized the beating the wicked servant gave his fellow servants in Jesus’ parable (Matt 24:49), the force of the staff the soldiers inflicted on Jesus’ head (Matt 27:30), and the beating Paul suffered at the hands of rioters (Acts 21:32) and, in another instance, the mouth slapping Paul received at the order of Ananias (Acts 23:2). Ouch, how painful!

GOD LISTENS TO THOSE WHO ARE HONEST BEFORE HIM

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ’God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ’God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (Luke 18:9-13)

There’s an interesting tradition about the unusual burial arrangement of the powerful Hapsburg royal family that presided over the Hungary-Austria Empire in the 19th century. When a royal family member died, the funeral procession went from castle to castle before reaching the basemen of the state church.

A knock was then heard on the door of the church, to which the priest inside asked: “Who is it?” The first answer was, “His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Austria,” but the priest’s reply was, “I do not know him.” A pause followed before a second knock on the door was heard. The priest again asked, “Who is it?” Again, the same answer was given, “His Imperial Majesty, The Emperor of Austria.” The priest again answered, “I do not know him.” An awkward pause again ensued before the third and final knock on the door was heard. This time, when the priest asked, “Who is it?” the right answer was given: “A poor sinner.” The priest would then open the door for the bearers of royalty.

Phillip Brooks said, “The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.” (quoted in Burning out for God, E. Skoglund, p. 11, http://www.sermonillustrations.com/humility.htm)

Praying for mercy is asking God not to give us what we deserve, what is fair, due, and near. The tax collector, to his credit, pleaded to the terms of God’s covenant, which states that the LORD is a merciful God and that He will not abandon or destroy Israel or forget the covenant with their forefathers (Deut 4:31). Of the 12 occurrences of the Hebrew description of God as “merciful,” 10 times it is immediately preceded or followed by the word “gracious,” (Ex 34:6, 2 Chron 30:9, Neh 9:17, 33, Ps 86:15, 103:8, 111:4, 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2), 5 times followed by the phrase “slow to anger” (Neh 9:17, Ps 103:8, 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2), and 5 times by the word “abundant” - “abounding in goodness and truth,” (Ex 34:6) “abounding in kindness,” (Neh 9:17, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2) “abounding in mercy and truth,” (Ps 86:15) “abounding in mercy” (Ps 103:8, Ps 145:8). The things God did not do to Israel because of his mercy include not abandoning or destroying them or forgetting the covenant with their forefathers (Deut 4:31), not turning his face from them if they return to him (2 Chron 30:9), not deserting them (Neh 9:17), not putting an end to them (Neh 9:31).