Luke 18:9 - 14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Questions:
ReplyDelete1. When will we be exalted or humbled? In this life?
2. How are the humbled exalted? What does it look like?
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/18-14.htm says:
ReplyDeleteTo be self-emptied, or, "poor in spirit," is the fundamental and indispensable preparation for the reception of the "grace which bringeth salvation": wherever this exists, the "mourning" for it which precedes "comfort" and the earnest "hungerings and thirstings after righteousness" which are rewarded by the "fulness" of it, will, as we see here, be surely found. Such, therefore, and such only, are the justified ones (Job 33:27, 28; Ps 34:18; Isa 57:15).
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-18-commentary says:
ReplyDeleteThe more familiar a parable, the more it cries out to be rescued from the barnacles that have attached themselves to it over the centuries. In the popular mind, the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a simple story about prayer. One man prays an arrogant prayer and is blamed for his attitudes. The other prays humbly and is praised for so doing. Too often the unconscious response becomes, Thank God, we’re not like that Pharisee! But such a reaction demonstrates that we are indeed like him! How can this parable best be understood? Is it strictly about styles of prayer? No doubt humility in prayer is at the heart of the story, but in his introduction Luke tells his readers that the main focus of the parable is righteousness and those who believe they can reach that pious goal by means of their own efforts.
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In summary, there are two ways Savior-righteousness or Self-righteousness. The former way leads to Heaven and eternal life, while the latter leads to Hell and Eternal Death. Self-righteousness is the great lie that has deceived mankind since the fall when the Serpent beguiled Eve with the lie "You surely will not die!"
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-18-commentary continued:
ReplyDeleteRobert Stein - Those who like the publican understand their sinful condition and know that they can only be saved by grace, find it difficult to despise others, for there is nothing of which they can boast. Only those who possess a false confidence in their own righteousness look down at others.
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Kenneth Bailey (taking the NRSV rendering as more accurate) comments that "because he stands by himself (not praying to himself) he may well be praying aloud, as was common Jewish custom (ED: AS LONG AS THEY DID NOT YELL). Such a voiced prayer would provide a golden opportunity to offer some unsolicited ethical advice to the “unrighteous” around him who might not have another opportunity to observe a man of his stratospheric piety! Most of us in our spiritual journeys have, at some time or other, listened to a sermon hidden in a prayer.
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Courson - Not only would a traditional Jew pray three times a day, but he would fast twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. Not accidentally, Monday and Thursday were market days in Jerusalem, which meant that everyone could see the piety of those who came with the mussed hair and wrinkled clothes of those who fasted. With long faces they made their way into the temple to pray so everyone could see their spirituality.
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-18-commentary continued:
ReplyDeleteTests of True Humility - this is "tricky"
1. Do you feel joy when others are honored?
2. Do you honestly and openly admit sin?
3. Do you seek truth from others regarding your weaknesses?
4. Do you accept criticism graciously?
5. Do you turn all worry, anxiety and concern over to the Lord?
6. Do you respond with humility when you have been replaced?
7. Do you pursue godliness in all that you do?
8. Do you feel you can answer yes to most of these questions?
If most of your answers are yes—take a look at yourself—you may have failed the test of True Humility!
Questions and findings:
ReplyDelete1. When will we be exalted or humbled? In this life?
2. How are the humbled exalted? What does it look like?
These two questions are related. We are so out of tune with this whole concept that we (I, anyway) have a hard time even understanding what it means to be exalted. When I think of the term exalted, my flesh thinks of being exalted in the eyes of other people. In God's kingdom, it's backwards, and this is what this parable is trying to get through to us. When we rightly see our position before Christ, repent before Him and realize how much we need Him, then Christ imputes to us righteousness, and we become part of His family. This is the exultation being referred to - in both this life and the next. This is exultation most high. Be aware, with this kind of exultation, we will invariable lose status in people's eyes. The more we are exalted, the lower other's opinion towards us will be.