By Grace

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬-‭14)

Jesus tells the parable of two men: one is righteous and the other not, a fact based on the information we have been given. 

The religious leader, a Pharisee, correctly identifies himself as someone who refrains from evil actions including stealing from others and adultery. He recognizes that his practices of tithing and fasting surpass the man standing near him who does none of these things. He gives thanks to God that he is not like the unrighteous, including this tax collector who was despised by the people; he was a Jew employed by the Roman Empire to collect money from the Jewish people… not a popular profession. There is an extremely confident understanding demonstrated by this religious leader that his actions are, in fact, righteous, and they are! This confidence, however, has grown to a point of arrogance, it seems, and not just that, but elitism. He now believes that he is actually better than others who haven’t done as many righteous deeds or actions as he has, and better in the eyes of God.

The second man, however, demonstrates a desperation in his understanding that he isn’t righteous at all. He knows that he hasn’t developed his character or practiced the disciplines in his life that lead to righteousness, and he fully recognizes this. His only response is: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (v. 13).

So why is the second man justified despite his obvious unrighteousness, and not the first one who has demonstrated righteous actions? In this answer, I believe, lies the point of the parable.

We are not able to achieve righteousness before God through our actions. We can never be that righteous before a perfect God. Are we called, however, to live a righteous life? Absolutely. In fact, Jesus saved us and has called us to live a holy life. How has He saved us? Not by anything we have done. Why has He saved us? For His purpose and because of His grace (2 Timothy 1:9-10).

Our attitude must always be like the second man who in desperation and complete humility, to the point of not even looking up to Heaven, cries out to God. Once we have been saved, we could never see ourselves as better than anyone else because of our good deeds, although they may truly be good, helpful, and righteous. We understand that they could never have saved us from total separation from our loving Creator (Romans 6:23). My good deeds are now done with the strength God provides by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and for His glory, not mine.

So, friends, we are saved by grace and called to live a holy life. Let us be careful to never look at our righteous deeds or our holy lives and confuse them with what saved us, namely, by the grace given to each of us through the blood of Jesus Christ, and all for the glory of God Almighty alone.

Let us humble ourselves and exalt Him!

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8)