The Way to Mercy

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Two men went to pray, in Luke 18.

(V. 9) And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves - not God - that they were righteous, and despised others. Some Pharisees trusted in themselves and their own righteousness.

The Lord knows our hearts. We can't trust in ourselves. We must place all of our trust in God.

(V. 10) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

See how they prayed:

(V. 11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. His prayer really "goes no higher than the roof".

There he stood, tall and vain: "I give you thanks, O God, that I am not like the rest of men: grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I tithe on all I possess. I give thanks to you, God, that I am keeping the Law, that I have been keeping this Law all my life."

His prayer reveals a heart consumed by self-righteousness and a judgmental attitude to those he perceives as lesser.

He wasn't really praying and thanking God, but he was only congratulating himself… He was a “model citizen”. We might think, what more could be expected of him?

BUT… This man had no consciousness of his own sin and his personal unworthiness. He did not ask for grace - and he received none.

He was proud of his morality. He confessed his virtues rather than his sins.

The Pharisee was proud of his own righteousness, but the tax collector was humble and knew that he needed God's mercy. The Pharisee's focus on external actions and his comparison with others blinded him to his own shortcomings.

Self-righteousness is pride - and it is sin. He did not come to God as a needy sinner.

While the Pharisee prayed so proudly, the tax collector stood at a distance… HIS EYES were looking down but HIS HEART was reaching up. He was ashamed of what he had done. (V. 13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

He stands afar off. Though a Jew he stands at a distance - in the Court of the Gentiles - he was conscious that his sins had distanced him from God.

Praise God - though the publican stood afar from God in conscious unworthiness - God did not stand afar from him. Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

He doesn’t raise his eyes at all. He doesn't lift his eyes up to heaven. He has a humble attitude of heart. He beats his breast. He says, "O God, be merciful to me a sinner." He confesses himself to be a sinner. He recognises his sin. The horror of it.

He doesn't claim any credit for any good he may have done. He just says honestly, "I am a sinner. God, be merciful to me."

He sees only his own sin and guilt. He realises he is guilty in the eyes of a holy God.

His prayer is short and simple. Just seven words. He saw his sinfulness. His need of a saviour.

His prayer is simple but profound, acknowledging his unworthiness and utter dependence on God's grace.

He's saying, "God show mercy through sacrifice to me, the sinner". He saw his need of the atoning death of Christ at Calvary.

He calls out for the mercy of God. He prays for God to "be merciful".

It was at the hour of sacrifice in the temple. The publican (unlike the Pharisee) was confessing his sin. He identified himself with the sacrifice made for sin.

He prayed for God to be satisfied with the value of the offering on the altar at the time. He had brought his sin offering - as it was being offered up on the altar he prayed in effect that God would show mercy through that substitute being offered. He saw that only the value of the sacrifice could make full payment for the forgiveness of his sin.

God is merciful to the repentant sinner because He is satisfied with the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. God exalts the humble and grants His grace and forgiveness.

Sin can only be paid for as we acknowledge that we need forgiveness - we need a substitute dying in our place for our sin.

(V. 14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.

He was forgiven - made upright and in right standing with God… The publican went home a changed man. He had repented and confessed his sin to God. In God's eyes he was justified.

Justification is God as judge, declaring us "just" in His sight - made just - saved and delivered from the eternal penalty of sin - and made righteous.

True righteousness comes to a humble and contrite heart. God can justify only by the sacrifice that Christ made for sin at Calvary. May we realise our need of God's mercy.

God's grace extends to everyone. It is the humble and contrite heart that finds justification before God. The only way of salvation is the mercy of God in Jesus Christ received by faith alone.

Go to him and plead, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." God is rich in mercy. Come to Jesus Christ in simple faith, and trust Him now.