IN Luke 18 two men went up into the Temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. They both presented themselves before God; they felt they had to say to Him; with Him they had to do.
But mark the difference of the two men. The one exalted himself, the other abased himself; the one justified himself, the other condemned himself; the one condemned God, the other justified God; the one made God a liar, the other confessed Him the God of truth; the one pleaded that he was not as other men, the other pleaded God's sovereign mercy. The one went down to his house as he came, a poor self-righteous, self-justifying, God condemning, judgment-deserving sinner; the other went down to his house justified, yes, JUSTIFIED—JUSTIFIED! "Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Read Luke 18:9-149And 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. (Luke 18:9‑14).
Beloved reader, which of these two men represents you?
Now they bring children to the Lord Jesus, that He would touch them; but His disciples rebuked them. The loving Savior said, " Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." There was a place in His large loving heart for them. Mothers, fathers, bring your children to Jesus, and He will bless them. Bring them in unwavering confidence, and He will touch them and save them.
But mark the next, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." How helpless is an infant, and how simply and unpretentiously a little child receives what is offered it.
The kingdom of God must be received in the same way. Receive is the word; not merit. God's gift must be received without the thought of deserving.
“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord "(Rom. 6)." As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)).
Now notice the next case in our chapter. He is a rich man. He comes to Jesus, and says, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Mark the words, "What shall I do?" With him it was not receiving as a little child; it was meriting.
Heaven was to be purchased; eternal life bought; his righteousness was to be his title; God's mercy despised.
“Thou knowest the commandments," said Jesus, “Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother." In Matt. 19:1919Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 19:19) it adds," Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
The young man replies, " All these things have I kept from my youth up.”
Let us see whether that was so; and in what comes out we learn the everlasting end of man's doing to be saved. "Yet lackest thou one thing; sell all that thou halt, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." The young man's head drops, for he has broken the law; he has kept his vast riches, while the poor have filled the land. He is convicted, and condemned by the law; but unable to stand the light, he turns upon his heel, and goes away very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
Man must be a receiver of eternal life, for it is all up with his meriting it; and he must get it on the ground of the everlasting done of the Son of God.
On the cross, in His dying agony, He cried, “It is finished?' He had come to do the will of God, and, blessed be His name, He had done it. “I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:44I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4)).
A little lower down in the chapter we have the case of a poor blind man sitting by the wayside begging. Not a rich man, but a poor man; not one who could talk of meriting, but one who could place all on the ground of mercy, and receive all as a gift. That is it; that is the place man must take—that of a receiver, not on the ground of deserving it, but of mercy.
So on hearing the multitude pass by, and learning that it was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, he cries out, " Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.”
“And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” Wonderfully blessed!" What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" Jesus was to do the doing; the blind man was to be the receiver, and right glad was he to take that place.
“Lord, that I may receive my sight," was his instant reply; and as instantly was he the recipient of the blessing. "And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”
Wonderfully simple! wonderfully real! wonderfully blessed! Man the needy one; God the giver, man the receiver; then, and not till then, praise rises from a heart overflowing with a sense of His grace and mercy, and in the knowledge of being in the possession of His salvation, and of all His untold blessings in Christ.
Beloved reader, have you taken the place of a receiver, discarding all idea of merit? If so, then follow Jesus, as did the blind man, and let your heart expand and overflow in praise and thanks-giving to the God of all grace.
E. A.