A Life In Jesus

Also he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I  thank you that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all I possess.'  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
Luke 18: 9-13 NKJV

As in most of his teachings, Jesus was making a point in this passage.  See, it seems that there were quite a few people in his day who thought of themselves as quite righteous.  Indeed, the first man in Jesus' story was so bold as to believe that his very works on earth would guarantee Gods grace.

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.
Ephesians 2: 8-9 NKJV

I guess we could call this Pharisee the very poster child for misunderstanding Gods grace.  The tax collector, on the other hand, comes before our Lord with a heavy and not a haughty heart.  Which man would you think would be justified in his plea?  Well, in the next verse Jesus answers that question for us.

"I tell you, this man (Our tax collector) went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 18: 14 NKJV

I can tell you this, friends, one of the greatest compliments that I've ever been given was that I was humble.  We often think alot of people who put the interests of others above their own.  God certainly looks favorably on such a person as well.  In fact, our Lord Jesus was one of the truest examples of a humble man the world has ever known.  Scripture is filled with many the times that Jesus showed compassion on those less fortunate than himself.  Of course, Jesus was simply showing the love of his father as he did this.  The love and forgivness that Jesus showed the woman caught in adultry, the tax collector and the woman at the well is the very same love and forgivness God showed when he sent his son as a sacrafice to us all.  For centuries, we have at times feared a "fire and brimstone" God who would smite any and all sinners.  Well, news flash people, God KNEW we would sin before he created us and yet he set his perfect plan of redemption in motion.  Before I was born, before you were born, God made plans for the cleansing of all of your sins past, present and future!  We are no longer sinners, but perfect in Christ Jesus who lives within us.