In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus spoke a parable to all those that trust in their ancestry or their good works for salvation. In this parable He contrasts a Pharisee and a tax collector: the Pharisee, one of the religious elite, comes to the temple to pray and begins by telling God how good he is, he was not like other men, after all he was of Jewish descent (cf. John 8:39) and his lifestyle was accordingly righteous, he was not an extortioner, he did not deal unjustly, he did not commit acts of adultery; and, oh yes, it was not only what he didn’t do, but he goes on to tell God of the righteous acts he did like fasting and tithing; however God was not impressed! And then there was this tax collector that also came to the temple to pray. Tax collectors were of very low esteem among the Jewish people, and were even classified with sinners (see Matthew 9:10-11). This man, in contrast to the self righteous Pharisee, showed remorsefulness for his sin and cried out “God, be merciful to me a sinner” Luke 18:13. It was this man that received mercy and Jesus said he “went down to his house justified rather than the other” verse 14. If we try to clothe ourselves with and inherit God’s favor and salvation by our good works, remember that “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6! The Bible says, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:5. And Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” As for claiming godly ancestry, it is of no merit; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. Jesus alone can clothe you with the garments of righteousness when you call upon Him.
Who is righteous?
By Rose Hill
The Pharisee thought he was so right,
Just perfect and good in God’s sight.
But the tax collector knew he was a sinner,
So in God’s sight he was the winner.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.