Have you ever considered that there might be something that is actually worse than sinning? I mean what could actually be worse than violating God’s commands? Jesus answers that question for us in Luke 18:9-14.
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Meaning
Notice how, in the parable that Jesus tells, He is illustrating the difference between these two men. One man thinks he is holy, the other knows that he is not. The first man thought he was so much better than the other—he was a Pharisee (aka a religious man). The other was a tax collector—things don’t get worse than that. In those days, there was nothing worse than being a tax collector, it’s like being a traitor today; no one loves traitors. It is no accident that Jesus chose a person in that occupation to make his point.
What I think that Jesus is saying with this parable is that there is something worse than being a sinner, it is being proud that you are not a sinner like that person!
Hard Words to Digest
We are all guilty of this at some point. We are smug that we are not as bad as so and so. We see them in their terrible, miserable, sinful state and think to ourselves, “Sure I’m bad, but not that bad…phew.” Jesus steps in and says that this line of thinking does not work in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Is it You?
So can I ask, are you like that? Do you see those around you and think that you are so much better than they are? Do you believe that, because you are not like them, somehow this is worthy of praise and exaltation? If so, follow Jesus’ words here and repent. One of the men went home justified and one didn’t. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
