Luke 18: 9 - 14: The Way to Go Up Is to Go Down

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Luke 18:9-14 is a narrative of Jesus’ parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector who both came to the temple to pray. Jesus directed this parable to the Pharisees who were self-righteous and who despised sinners.

In God’s holy presence, the Pharisee exhorts himself that he is not like other people who are extortioners, immoral, or like the tax collector who is a cheat. The Pharisee goes on to say that he is a conscientious follower of God – even fasting twice a week and strictly giving tithes.

On the hand, here is a tax collector standing before the Lord and dares not lift his eyes toward heaven. He beats his chest in deep sorrow and remorse for the evil he has done against his fellowmen and against his God. He realizes the enormity of his sins and here he is sincerely pleading, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.”

WHO WERE THE PUBLICANS?

In ancient times, publicans were public contractors who supplied goods and services to the Roman army. They also contracted public building projects. They were also the ones who managed the collection of taxes and port duties.

During the New Testament times, the publicans were primarily the tax collectors for the Romans. The Romans would bid for a value for the estimated total tax for a particular region. Any amount collected over and above the bid would be profit for the publican. There was the risk however, if it happens that the total tax collected is lower than the bid amount. In this case, the publican would lose instead of gain. So to ensure profit, the publican getting the contract had to exact excessive percentage over and above the tariff or rate set by the Roman government.

There were publicans who would take lands and possessions away from those who could not pay the required tax. Some would even go to the extent of taking wives and daughters of men who could not pay to be their concubines.

For this reason, the publicans were considered by the Pharisees as extortioners and traitors because they were Jews themselves who were abusing their countrymen while working for the Romans. The Pharisees who were considered as pious religious leaders of the Jews looked at the publicans as scum of the society.

WHOSE PRAYER WAS ACCEPTED BY THE LORD? WHO WENT HOME JUSTIFIED?

Luke 18: 14 (NIV) - “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. . . .”

LESSONS TO LEARN

No matter how sinful you are, you are still within the reach of God’s transforming love.

No matter how good you think you are, you may not be really that good.

"Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 18:14).

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