One day, Jesus was teaching His disciples, and He saw some people there who were looking down on others, because they considered themselves to be more righteous than they were.
Parable
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Jesus knew that He was the Son of God — every much God as God the Father. He even created the universe with the Father (see John 1:3). Even though He knew that He was more powerful, more righteous, and more worthy than anyone else around Him, He still humbled Himself more than anyone else. He actually showed us how to be humble servants by being a servant Himself. With all of that in mind, He told this parable.
The Pharisees were a group of very religious people who followed the Jewish Law (Mosaic Law) to the letter. They made sure that they made no mistakes, and they were very proud of themselves, trusting in their own abilities.
The other man in this parable was a tax collector. They collected taxes for the Roman government, and they were hated by the Jewish people, because they typically overcharged for taxes, cheated the people, and were considered traitors by most people.
Pharisee
11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.
Notice how Jesus said that the Pharisee was praying this “to himself”, not to God. There are times when we might think that we are praying to God, but we really aren’t. This is one of those times. Instead of really praying, this man was bragging to himself and God about how wonderful he was.
Tax Collector
13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Many people would have considered this tax collector to be a horrible person. In his prayer, this man even confessed to God that he was a horrible person, and he asked God for mercy.
God knows that we are all sinful.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Are we willing to admit that we are sinful? That’s what true confession is. That’s what God wants us to do — humble ourselves and our own pride, so that we can agree with God’s true assessment of our lives: we are sinful and need a Savior.
Poor Widow
41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.
42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.
43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;
44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
We can’t “buy” our way into heaven. God already owns everything. He is just letting us use these things for a while. What God wants is our hearts.
This poor widow, like the tax collector, was not part of the “in” crowd. People looked down on both of them, but these were the people that Jesus elevated. They knew that they needed help, and they reached out to God for help.
The widow probably had old, unflattering clothes, and couldn’t afford to make herself “pretty” like the wives of the Pharisees, but God considered her beautiful in His eyes.
True Beauty
3 Your adornment must not be merely external — braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
If only we all looked at each other the way that God looks at us, things would be very different. There is nothing wrong with having nice things and looking good on the outside. If that is our main focus, though, we aren’t as good looking as we think we are.
Ugliness
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
God calls proud people “an abomination.” A proud heart is not an attractive heart.
Humility
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.
Humility is something that we need to do. If we don’t humble ourselves, though, God will humble us. Where is your heart today?
Lord, help us all to humble ourselves before You, so that You can raise us up in Your eyes, and we can be beautiful in Your sight!
Eternity is forever.
Don’t wait for “one day”; one day is today.
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