The Pharisee and the Publican

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“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 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 unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I 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 18:10-1410Two 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 18:10‑14).
We are told what was the occasion of this parable being given; it was spoken “unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.”
The prayer of the Pharisee is full of” I:” it was what he was, and what he did. He thanked God? it is true; but not a word of what God had done for him; indeed, not a word that he needed God to do anything for him. No, he prayed” with himself”
The publican, on the contrary, had not a word to say in his own favor. He felt, as well as owned, what he was. He stood afar off; he was not worthy even to look up unto heaven; but he smote upon his breast, owned he was a sinner, and cried for mercy.
The result was, that the publican went to his house justified rather than the Pharisee. The teaching is not primarily the way of salvation, though the sinner took his true place, and went to his house justified; but it was spoken to those who justified themselves, and despised others; and thus our Lord says at the close,” Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” These were, and are now, the principles of the kingdom of God. The two states are vividly portrayed in the first Adam exalting himself, and falling; and our blessed Lord humbling Himself, and being exalted.
It is to be feared that there are many in this day who answer to the Pharisee; they may, indeed, use very different language, but it is exalting self in some way, which can only end in shame and perdition; while the humble believer, who can take a low place, will surely be exalted by-and-by.
There are one or two points, however, that need to be guarded. A sinner has not now to call upon God with the thought of moving Him to be merciful. God is waiting to be gracious, and has sent His ambassadors, entreating men to be reconciled, and to accept salvation, full and free. But, as we have said, this is not the interpretation of the parable. On the other hand, redemption has now been accomplished, and a Christian is brought into close association with Christ, and is told to come boldly to the throne of grace; and he should surely take the place God has given him as a son and as a saint, and not be content to be classing himself habitually with” miserable sinners.” Still, he is a debtor to mercy all through his course, and in no way can talk, as the Pharisee did, of his good deeds.” Though I be nothing,” is the true language of a Christian, and he has also Christ Himself as his example. He made Himself of no reputation, and is now exalted to the highest heavens. See Phil. 2:5-115Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5‑11).
Alas how prone we are to like a little reputation! Surely many of us have yet to attain to counting ourselves as nothing, and making ourselves of no reputation; but” he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”