Those Who Trusted in Themselves (10/30)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Luke 17:11-18:14.

Jesus told a parable of two men – a Pharisee and a tax collector – in order to teach a lesson about attitudes and how one perceived himself before God.

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 18:9-14).

The Pharisee would have been recognized by others as being righteous. The tax collector acknowledged that he was a sinner. Yet he was justified, and the Pharisee was not. Why? Notice the two problems with the Pharisee:

  1. He trusted in himself that he was righteous. Righteousness certainly involves works that we must do (James 2:21-24; 1 John 3:7). But when we obey God, we are not trusting in ourselves, but in Him. The Pharisee was trusting in himself and in the traditions, commands, and opinions of men. Doing this makes our worship to God vain (Matthew 15:9).
  2. He viewed others with contempt. The tax collector went home justified because he penitently confessed his sin to God. So while he may have been unjustified before praying to God, God was willing to forgive Him. We must recognize this as well. God is willing to forgive all those who will repent and obey Him (2 Peter 3:9; Acts 10:34-35). Therefore, instead of looking at a sinner with contempt, we should look at him with the understanding that God is willing to forgive him and with the desire that he might learn and obey the truth.

We must not trust in ourselves, but in God. And we must be thankful that He will welcome everyone who will come to Him in faithful obedience – even us if we will do the same.

Tomorrow’s reading: Matthew 19; Mark 10

[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]


Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.


.