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).
Verse 9. "And He spake also this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.”
IN the former verses of this chapter, the Lord Jesus had spoken a parable unto this end—that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; a parable full of encouragement to believing and expectant prayer, although appearances may be disheartening, and the answer long in coming. The prophetic interpretation of this parable may apply to Israel, who are apparently so long forsaken of their God, but on whose behalf, when the Son of Man appears, God will speedily execute judgment.
The Lord now adds another parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.
Verses 10-12. "Two men went up into the temple [outer temple] to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican [tax-gatherer]. The 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 [tax-gatherer]. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess [acquire].'”
These two men, so different in character, creed, and self-estimation, go up to the outer court of the same temple to pray; and both present themselves before the same holy, holy, holy God. Within the court of the priests, where they dare not enter, stands in full view the altar of burnt offering, whereon the fire was ever burning, the sacrifice ever consuming, and from which the sweet savor of the ascending offering was ever going up to God, and where also stood the brazen sea with its abundance of water for cleansing and sanctification—gloriously presenting before the eye of faith God's provision for the putting away of sin through the atoning sacrifice of His own spotless Lamb, and God's provision for the sanctification of those who drew near unto Him and worshipped before Him through the regenerating and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost. All this is unheeded and overlooked by the Pharisee in his self-occupation and self-esteem; he stands and prays "thus with himself." He ventures to approach a righteous and holy God without sacrifice, like Cain, and to pray before Him without the sanctification of the Spirit. Being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish his own righteousness, he pleads only what he was not, what he did, and how much he considered himself better than others.
Verse 13. "And the publican [tax-gatherer], standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful [literally, be propitious on the ground of reconciliation, or atonement made] to me a sinner [the sinner].'”
To the eye of faith the ordinances of the law presented a shadow of those grand and glorious truths which have their reality and substance in Christ. Taught by the Spirit of God, the publican saw in that fire of the altar ever burning, the righteousness and justice of God, who is a consuming fire. In this light he saw himself a sinner, guilty and condemned, and, without comparing himself with others, he confessed himself "the sinner," as though he stood alone before God.
But the same Spirit which convicted him of sin led him to plead before God the sin-atoning sacrifice. "God be propitious to me the sinner"—not simply merciful, on the vain supposition that a holy and righteous God could pass by sin without a satisfaction being made for the breach of His holy law, and in vindication of His holiness, justice, and truth. Apart from a personal interest in the sacrifice made for sin, he dared not approach to God. In the consciousness of the sin which lurked within his breast, on which he smote, he dared not lift up his eyes in worship before God. The language of his inmost soul may be best expressed in those inspired words, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Verse 14. "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased [humbled]; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
The one goes down to his house self-justified, but God-condemned; the other self-condemned, but by God-justified. The one exalts himself, and God must abase him; the other humbles himself, and God for His own glory will exalt him.