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"Ego is like a bad haircut, everyone notices but you"

 

   Today's gospel story has Jesus telling a parable that warns us as Christians against having too high opinion of ourselves.

 

Luke 18:14 “for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

 

   In this gospel lesson we have Jesus telling the parable to “certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.”

 

  The teaching presented in this parable is still as valid today as it was then.

 

  The two kinds of worship of God brought out in his story are still viewpoints found in the “modern” world in which we live.

 

   The first believes that man gains favor with God and eternal life through the good works he performs.

 

  Salvation, according to this group's idea, is based on work-righteousness.

 

  The Pharisees, who followed Jesus with the purpose of finding fault with him, were of this group. They considered themselves better than others because they strictly followed the outward tenets of the Jewish law. They looked on others that didn't with contempt. They considered themselves righteous and expected therefore to enjoy the favor of God.

 

   The clear teaching of Jesus was that this kind of worship is not acceptable to God.

 

  The Pharisee in the parable went home not justified.

 

  We cannot work our way into heaven, or just by belonging to a certain group be justified before God.

 

   The second type of worship in this parable is shown by the publican.

 

  He comes to God not seeking justice, but instead mercy.

 

  His prayer came from a deep sense of his sinfulness.

 

  “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”

 

  He doesn't try to offer excuses.

 

  He doesn't try to contrast his sins with others who may have indeed broken more of God's law than himself.

 

   His prayer is one of acknowledging his helplessness.

 

  He has nothing to boast of.

 

  Nothing to offer as a basis for God's mercy to him, except that God is merciful.

 

   Our plea for mercy, like this publican, must be a cry of faith.

 

  Faith in our Redeemer Jesus Christ, who has reconciled us to our Heavenly Father by His sacrifice for us on the cross.

 

  We can only be saved by grace, through faith in Christ.

 

  Not by our own works.

 

   The apostle Paul in the third chapter (verses 23 & 24) of his epistle to the Romans tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”