Luke 18: 9-14

            It is not strange that Jesus constantly clashed with Israel’s current religious leaders, as the gospel narratives stridently reveal. In fact, He is fiercely rejected by the religious leaders and authorities. His teachings perturbed and angered them, clashing greatly with their concepts and practice of truth. Theirs was an outward, external show of religion, steeped in rituals and performances. His was a religion of the heart – inward piety.

           In Jesus, we find heartfelt religion expressed by deep repentance and holy living as opposed to the religion of the mouth, vainly contrasting, and exalting oneself over others. For instance, this is powerfully conveyed in his revolutionary teaching of the Pharisee and the Publican, as is recorded for us in Luke 18:9-14.

            Luke informs us that “He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (18:9). From the outset the reader is made to ponder and wonder how one can be righteous or presume to be righteous while despising others, especially when one considers, what it is to despise someone. The word despise here means – to make of no account, to regard as nothing, to treat with contempt.

           Notice in the passage that the self-righteous are so quick to classify all outside their group as “the others.” They are really filled with contempt for all those they deem as different. They loathe them. They see the sins and shortcomings of all others, but their own.

           However, we also note what Jesus so judiciously pointed out about the Pharisee. Jesus said he “stood and prayed with himself…” (v11). He prayed, but there was very little humility, if any, in his prayer, his attitude, his action and his demeanor. He prayed about himself while elevating and exalting himself. He prayed, promoting and praising himself. He prayed denouncing and denigrating others. He prayed, boasting about his purity, his good works and his good fortune. He prayed with himself, Jesus said. He prayed, but not to God.

            On the other hand, Jesus promptly directs us to the publican who also comes to the temple, but who reverently and humbly stands afar off and would not so much as lift his eyes to heaven, but who is genuinely so remorseful, simply saying “God be merciful to me a sinner” (v13). Here, the contrast could not be more blunt. There is no fanfare, no fancy words, no self-exaltation, no boasting, no elevating of self or denouncing of others – just a simple prayer of deep penitence and devotion – “God be merciful unto me a sinner.” May we all learn this simple prayer again!

             As a result, hear Jesus’ final argument of the case. He says with great emphasis, “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”(v14).

            I trust that the Church of God will be a place of heartfelt religion and worship – that we will all see the need to humble ourselves – that we will become more and more a community of equals – not magnifying our differences but embracing our commonality as all who have sinned in need of His mercy, praying “… God be merciful to me a sinner” (v13).

Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region

February 12, 2022