Hypocrisy versus Humility Luke 18:9-14

Self-righteousness is like a cup without a bottom: if you pour and pour, you will not be able to fill it. Why? Because when you pour yourself into yourself, you don’t add anything to yourself. Nothing plus nothing always equals nothing.

There are many so-called Christians today who believe that they are Christians and they are “righteous” and that they are “right” in the eyes of God without doing what God tells them to do. In Luke 18, Jesus gives us a parable which concerns those who believe “in themselves” that they are righteous. Let’s study the words of Jesus…

THE BACKGROUND OF THE PARABLE (18:9-10):

Why did Jesus give this parable? In Romans 10:1-2, Paul says that the Jews believed that they themselves were righteous and they established their own righteousness, rejecting the righteousness of God (salvation through Jesus Christ). How often have we emphasized the biblical teaching relative to humility? Those who establish their own way of righteousness are arrogant – they refuse to submit to the will of God. We must always humble ourselves before God.

THE ATTITUDE OF THE PHARISEE (18:11-12):

The Pharisees believed they were saved – but through their traditions – not through accepting God’s Messiah (Luke 7:29-30). When we reject God’s plan, we are rejecting Him. On the other hand, the Pharisees believed they could be saved simply through their relationship with Abraham (Matthew 3:9).

THE ATTITUDE OF THE TAX COLLECTOR (18:13):

Tut the tax collector beat himself on the breast, saying a very short prayer but very sincere – completely from the heart! Seven words in English, six words in Greek. But he was speaking with a much stronger voice that those eloquent prayers uttered throughout the years! “Have mercy on me.”

JESUS’ CONCLUSION (18:14):

Jesus concludes the story (parable) with one of His most favorite themes – humility. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” That very sentence or something like it is found several times in the New Testament – Matthew 18:4; 23:12; Luke 14:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

Why can we not boast in our own righteousness?

  1. In Luke 17:10, Jesus showed that servants must do what their master says and there is no reward for that. In other words, if we obey God perfectly, He still would not owe us anything!
  2. Again, consider Romans 3:23-24. All have sinned and even those in Christ continue to sin, just as John told us. Mercy is for sinners.
  3. Only Christ can save: John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 2:9;  Romans 5:2, 8.
  4. Therefore, nobody deserves salvation; nobody deserves heaven. Nobody can be saved – even through “good works.” Each man is saved through the blood of Christ – Romans 4:4-5.

Let’s put our trust in Jesus Christ; let’s put our lives into His hands; let’s obey Him in humility in every aspect of our lives and let’s have the assurance that if we live for Him now, we’ll live with Him forever. Let’s not regard others with contempt. If they are in sin, let’s show them the grace of Christ through the Gospel.

Paul Holland

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