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This week we are continuing our study of Chapter 18. Please read verses 18:9-14 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 18:11-13(NLT)
‘The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’”’
I think I’ve mentioned in previous devotions that I used to work in a private music school teaching children to play the piano. I’ve also stated that I wasn’t particularly effective and only a few of my pupils continued their studies for long periods of time. Some of the children I saw were very, very young and some were very, very old. I saw boys, girls, men and women who had varying levels of abilities and talents.
I remember one particular mother bringing her little daughter to lessons. All I will say is that the mother was more enthusiastic about the lessons than was the young girl. On the evening of the first lesson, the mother strode purposefully into the room and we made our introductions. However, the little girl remained outside in the hallway. The mother went out to get her and almost dragged her into the room to meet me. The young girl was so shy and wouldn’t emerge from behind her mum. Despite continual encouragement, we made little progress and for that first night, the mother sat next to me on the piano stool while the girl was the other side next to her mum. For the entire time, the girl wouldn’t speak to me and in fact wouldn’t even look in my direction. She kept her distance and was afraid to look at me.
What we see in our verses today is a complete contrast in the attitudes of the Pharisee and the tax collector. While the Pharisee had taken a position closest to the sanctuary, the tax collector stands ‘at a distance’. The Pharisee stands with eyes wide open looking upward but the tax collector cannot even lift his head toward heaven. It seems that just like my pupil who scarcely could muster the courage to be in the same room as me, this man has the same attitude toward his God.
While his location and demeanour tell us something about his heart, Jesus leaves no room for doubt as He reveals what this man prayed about. He stood, beating his chest in sorrow. We certainly don’t see much of this behaviour in our western culture, but the meaning is clear as far as this man was concerned. He was a sinner and he knew it. He is ashamed of his sin and knew that this was a barrier between him and God. In deep sorrow, grief and remorse he beat his chest. This wasn’t to draw attention to himself but was intended to demonstrate his repentance toward a Holy God. His words are few but sincerely profound. “Have mercy on me because I’m a sinner.”
There is much we can learn and apply from this man’s actions and attitude. He identifies his true position before God. He is a sinner and is in need of mercy. Before Christ, that is where we all stood. The old hymn ‘Rock of Ages’ says ‘Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling’. Apart from His grace we are nothing and have nothing. However, we now can come boldly to Him and not in timidity or fear like this tax collector. Our sin that once separated us is dealt with. ‘My sin…is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more’. We don’t need to look down in shame but can lift up our heads to the King of kings. What grace, what mercy, what salvation.
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