(LUKE 18:9-239And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 15And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. 18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother. 21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. (Luke 18:9‑23).)
(Substance of a Gospel Address translated from the Swedish.)
JESUS spoke a parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with (or to) himself, God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican: I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
“I tell you, said Jesus, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
The Pharisees, instead of humbling themselves, despised the righteous judgment of God about themselves.
In another place Jesus had said to them, “The publicans and the harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you” (Matt. 21:3131Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (Matthew 21:31)). The publican in this parable smote upon his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” A short, heartfelt confession of seven simple words. Many have made long confessions which have never gone up to heaven; never reached the heart of God, as the cry of this publican did. How much like it was the confession of Peter when he fell down before Jesus and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
The Pharisee stood and prayed with (or to) himself, “God, I thank Thee!” But for what was he thankful? Was it for God’s goodness in forgiving him? No! What followed from his lips clearly proved that. He thanked God for his own goodness! But there was One who had a just estimate of both these prayers.
In the book of Daniel we read what the prophet said to the wicked godless King of Babylon (Dan. 5:22, 2722And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; (Daniel 5:22)
27TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. (Daniel 5:27)). “O Belshazzar, thou hast not humbled thine heart.... Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
It was in the balances of the Sanctuary that these two men’s prayers were weighed. When Jesus was on earth He made known that He never spoke words that were not abiding. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away” (Mark 13:3131Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Mark 13:31)).
In verse 15 we find another feature of being “found wanting.” This time it is in the Lord’s own disciples. “We read that infants were brought to Jesus with the desire that He should touch them; but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked those that brought them” (Mark 10:1313And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. (Mark 10:13)). It was the judgment of these mothers, no doubt, that nothing could be better for their children than the Lord and Master’s own hands being laid upon them―His mighty protecting hands! But the disciples considered them much too unimportant for any interest to be shown them by Jesus. “But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God... and He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:1616And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:16)).
It is certain that, in their understanding of their Lord, these disciples were “found wanting.” Self-importance was their hindrance.
Then in verse 18 we find a third feature of the same thing. A certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” But the Lord knew what his heart was really clinging to, and touched the spot at once. He was more than “Good master.” He was the all-seeing God. In respect of keeping certain commandments, he could say, “All these have I kept from my youth up.” “Yet lackest thou one thing,” said Jesus. “Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come follow Me.” And when he heard this he was very sorrowful; for he was very rich. Jesus knew his heart; and holding the balance, this well-disposed ruler was “found wanting.”
Thus we plainly see in these few verses, that the Pharisee could not enter into the Kingdom because of his self-righteousness, the rich ruler could not enter because of his self-interest; while instead of the meekness and insignificance of little children being any hindrance to their getting a place in the coming Kingdom, they got a place in the arms of Jesus. Such features as theirs will mark all those who are found “fit for the kingdom of heaven.” The sinner at Calvary who owned that condemnation was his just desert, and the crown and kingdom were rightly due to the wondrous One hanging by his side, got more than he asked for that very day. The One Who had “done nothing amiss” was suffering for the sins of those who felt they had done everything amiss; so suffering that mercy-seeking sinners might be brought to God without a charge against them or a spot upon them.
Adapted―G. GUSTAFSON.