To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (vv.9-13)
A story is told of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, who visited a prison and talked with each of the inmates. As the story goes, there were endless tales of innocence, of misunderstood motives, and of exploitation. Finally the king stopped at the cell of a convict who remained silent. “Well,” remarked Frederick, “I suppose you are an innocent victim too?” “No, sir, I’m not,” replied the man. “I’m guilty and deserve my punishment.” Turning to the warden, the king said, “Here, release this rascal before he corrupts all these fine innocent people in here!”
This is also true about salvation. As long as the sinner claims innocence and refuses to acknowledge his transgressions before the Lord, he does not receive the blessings of redemption. But when he pleads guilty and cries out, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner,” as the tax collector here in our passage, he is forgiven.
May we check our attitudes at the door of humility, that we may be exalted by the LORD and not abased (v.14). May we bow before the LORD in repentance, beating our chests, saying “be merciful to me, a sinner” and not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought” (vv.12-13).
The Truth: ""God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (Proverbs 3:34)
