Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)
Read Luke 18:9-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: Verse 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Verse 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. Verse 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' Verse 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' Verse 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."
Devotion
When I read this gospel story, I wonder about the reversals God sees in me that Luke speaks of. Many of us can look back to a time when we had to pick between two difficult choices and wondered how we could be justified in doing what had to be done? There are others who may have had to choose between tithing and buying medicine for a child, or men and women in the military who may have been put into a situation of having to choose whether to follow orders of a superior or their own conscience.
It’s easy to look at the Pharisee and regard him with contempt and praise the tax collector because we think his heart was in the right place. But we don’t know the heart, and we are not to judge. We are blessed to know we don’t receive what we deserve but rather God is merciful to us in spite of what we do or even what is in our hearts when we are not humble.
Prayer
Merciful God, create in me a clean heart, a humble heart, a heart without judgement of others. Forgive me when I think too well of myself. Thank you for the grace you have granted to me. Amen.
Interested in digging deeper into today’s text?
Read more here.