Me, the Sinner

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

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.” Luke 18:1-14


Keep on asking God for what you need. Jesus gave an illustration of a judge who had no respect for God or man, but who became so wearied with the constant petitions of an oppressed widow that he granted her request just to get rid of her. God is much more compassionate on His elect, who cry out to Him for help. He will make short work of those who oppress us, because we are His. And yet, mankind chooses to ignore the Sovereign Creator of the universe, in favor of their own schemes and devices.

Some people 'trust in themselves," Jesus said, and view others with contempt. Oh boy. We know some of those people, don't we? They are self-righteous. They consider themselves good. Why are they good? Because of the many bad things they don't do. And because they are not like "this tax collector." Why are they good? Because of the many points they think they have accrued by such things as fasting and tithing. When they stand before the judgment seat of Christ, their trust in themselves will be totally worthless, because those works are not what saves. Jesus Christ's perfect atonement is what saves.

The tax collector, however, who acknowledges he is THE sinner, knows his only hope is in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. God's provision. All he asks is mercy. He has nothing to brag about, and he very well knows it. His hope is only in the Lord, Who is in charge of his eternal fate. That humility will bring him justification. We have nothing to offer. We can only RECEIVE what God has provided. What He has provided is eternal life for those who believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Thereby, we are exalted IN HIM.