May 27th, 2020
by Jason Huckabee
by Jason Huckabee
by Paul Cypert
Luke, a follower of Jesus and later one who becomes an Apostle and author, records, in his Gospel account of the days in which Jesus was on this Earth as a man, the stories of a prostitute who crashes a dinner party, a prodigal son and the story of a Publican (tax collector).
Luke’s stories unravel for us a perspective of how these three separate individuals somehow understood their condition and responded. All three found a moment of divine clarity, all three responded and found deep meaning springing forth from their action.
I find it fascinating that all three stories incorporate an antagonist (Simon the Pharisee, the elder brother, another Pharisee) whom by all accounts see themselves in religious right standing with God and the world based on merit and status.
Today, we look at the Publican. A notorious sinner because he begins his conversation with God based upon his status, a sinner.
Let’s get started…
Luke 18:9-14
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed 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 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 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!’ 14 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.”
It seems to me that all prayer that God justifies by acting on begins with a real assessment. An assessment of where one actually is as a person, like the tax collector whose prayer found God and the Pharisee’s prayer that did not.
The Publican’s (tax-collector) prayer, and I love this, came from whom he really was. Not shrouded or wrapped in saying it right nor based upon shadowy perceptions that God hears based upon merit like I tithe, fast and as the Pharisee says, I’m not like that poor Publican standing over there on the street corner.
Many are the stories of people in the Bible who came to God knowing they were in a compromised condition, and this quality of genuiness in their words to God very well may be an insight into effective prayer.
Obviously, there is powerful connection that occurs between a soul and God our Father when one fairly assesses their own condition. This is seen in the prayer of the man in the New Testament who said to Jesus, ‘Lord, I believe but I need help with my unbelief’ (paraphrased).
So much foolishness today, so little humility. A world of religion filled with presumption and foolishness but very little real faith. The Publican, with many others, musters the courage to be genuine and authentic with God concerning who and where they are in life. I believe that faith was a powerful part of their words because speaking openly, honestly and with vulnerability towards the Trinitarian person of God demands that one believes in that which is good, abundant and rich concerning Him!
The Publican rightly assessed who he was, a sinner, but weren’t we all?
Luke, a follower of Jesus and later one who becomes an Apostle and author, records, in his Gospel account of the days in which Jesus was on this Earth as a man, the stories of a prostitute who crashes a dinner party, a prodigal son and the story of a Publican (tax collector).
Luke’s stories unravel for us a perspective of how these three separate individuals somehow understood their condition and responded. All three found a moment of divine clarity, all three responded and found deep meaning springing forth from their action.
I find it fascinating that all three stories incorporate an antagonist (Simon the Pharisee, the elder brother, another Pharisee) whom by all accounts see themselves in religious right standing with God and the world based on merit and status.
Today, we look at the Publican. A notorious sinner because he begins his conversation with God based upon his status, a sinner.
Let’s get started…
Luke 18:9-14
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed 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 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 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!’ 14 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.”
It seems to me that all prayer that God justifies by acting on begins with a real assessment. An assessment of where one actually is as a person, like the tax collector whose prayer found God and the Pharisee’s prayer that did not.
The Publican’s (tax-collector) prayer, and I love this, came from whom he really was. Not shrouded or wrapped in saying it right nor based upon shadowy perceptions that God hears based upon merit like I tithe, fast and as the Pharisee says, I’m not like that poor Publican standing over there on the street corner.
Many are the stories of people in the Bible who came to God knowing they were in a compromised condition, and this quality of genuiness in their words to God very well may be an insight into effective prayer.
Obviously, there is powerful connection that occurs between a soul and God our Father when one fairly assesses their own condition. This is seen in the prayer of the man in the New Testament who said to Jesus, ‘Lord, I believe but I need help with my unbelief’ (paraphrased).
So much foolishness today, so little humility. A world of religion filled with presumption and foolishness but very little real faith. The Publican, with many others, musters the courage to be genuine and authentic with God concerning who and where they are in life. I believe that faith was a powerful part of their words because speaking openly, honestly and with vulnerability towards the Trinitarian person of God demands that one believes in that which is good, abundant and rich concerning Him!
The Publican rightly assessed who he was, a sinner, but weren’t we all?
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