Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 18:9-14
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Commentary:
18:9 Again, as in v. 1, Luke interprets the parable before the parable itself is given. to some who trusted … that they were righteous. The audience addressed by the parable (probably Pharisees) had an unrealistic sense of self-worth. Falsely confident of their own righteousness, they treated others with contempt.
18:10 Two men (cf. 15:11; 17:34–35) went up into the temple. Even if a person is in Jerusalem, he or she still must go “up” to the temple and “down” from there (see 18:14) because the temple was situated on an elevated mount with the rest of Jerusalem below it (on the temple, see note on John 2:14). Pharisee.
18:11 The Pharisee, standing. The normal posture of prayer. God, I thank you that I. The five “I’s” in this passage reveal the egocentricity of the Pharisee. Rather than thanking God for what God has done for him, the Pharisee arrogantly brags to God about his own moral purity and religious piety.
18:12 I fast twice a week. The OT law did not require this much fasting, but apparently only one fast a year, on the Day of Atonement. tithes of all that I get. See Deut. 14:22–27, which required a tithe of the crops; see also Lev. 27:30–32; Num. 18:21–24.
18:13 Because of shame the tax collector … would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, which was a sign of sorrow and contrition (cf. 23:48), and said, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. The “sinner’s prayer” (cf. Ps. 51:1) seeks God’s mercy. The stark contrast between the contrition of the sinner and the self-righteousness of the Pharisee is key to understanding the central point of the parable.
18:14 Jesus pronounces a shocking reversal of common expectations. The Pharisee thought that he was “righteous” (18:9) and tried to justify himself (cf. 16:15), but the tax collector depended on God’s mercy and as a result received God’s gift of righteousness and was pronounced justified.
18:10 Two men (cf. 15:11; 17:34–35) went up into the temple. Even if a person is in Jerusalem, he or she still must go “up” to the temple and “down” from there (see 18:14) because the temple was situated on an elevated mount with the rest of Jerusalem below it (on the temple, see note on John 2:14). Pharisee.
18:11 The Pharisee, standing. The normal posture of prayer. God, I thank you that I. The five “I’s” in this passage reveal the egocentricity of the Pharisee. Rather than thanking God for what God has done for him, the Pharisee arrogantly brags to God about his own moral purity and religious piety.
18:12 I fast twice a week. The OT law did not require this much fasting, but apparently only one fast a year, on the Day of Atonement. tithes of all that I get. See Deut. 14:22–27, which required a tithe of the crops; see also Lev. 27:30–32; Num. 18:21–24.
18:13 Because of shame the tax collector … would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, which was a sign of sorrow and contrition (cf. 23:48), and said, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. The “sinner’s prayer” (cf. Ps. 51:1) seeks God’s mercy. The stark contrast between the contrition of the sinner and the self-righteousness of the Pharisee is key to understanding the central point of the parable.
18:14 Jesus pronounces a shocking reversal of common expectations. The Pharisee thought that he was “righteous” (18:9) and tried to justify himself (cf. 16:15), but the tax collector depended on God’s mercy and as a result received God’s gift of righteousness and was pronounced justified.
Questions:
- Jesus gave a parable about the Pharisee and tax collector. The Pharisee assumed God should accept him because of his behaviors. The tax collector assumed nothing, other that his unworthiness. They were both sinners, but only the tax collector knew it. Jesus said it was the tax collector, because of his humility, that left justified that day. The HUMBLE inherit the Kingdom. Who is an example in your life of humility? How does it show itself in their actions and words? Do you need to grow in this area?
- Humility before God is a MUST if we are going to be faithful followers of Jesus. This means daily reminding ourselves of the truth of the gospel and all we have been saved from. It means making sure we stay on the tax collector side of this parable and never the pharisee side. If we're not careful, we'll slide that direction. Examine your heart. Is there any tinge of spiritual arrogance there? Do you ever talk yourself into believing you're good enough for God's grace?
Pray:
- That you would do your best to remain humble.
- That you would remember you're not good enough, that's why you need God's grace.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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