LK 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on
everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray,
one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed
about himself: `God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers,
adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a
tenth of all I get.'
LK 18:13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to
heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
LK 18:14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified
before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted."
Here we have two people went to temple to pray. One is Pharisee one is tax collector.
Pharisee is a religious people. He kept the duties of Judaism. His whole life is
devoted to studies of religion. He has much more knowledge than most common folk.
Tax collector is living in sinful environment. He might not have time to carry out
religious duties in the weekdays. His daily works is dealing with money and tax.
And he probably has little knowledge on religious matter.
What is the purpose of studying the Bible? One studies the Bible in order to know
one’s sinful condition and have a righteous standing before a holy God. It is
because the message of the Bible is not to teach a person to act morally, to act
better in a temptation situation. Rather the message of the Bible is that, we are
all sinners by nature. No matter you are religious people or common folk, we all
need to believe Jesus Christ as our only redemption. It is in Christ that we have
already received this righteous standing before a just God, and being called the
child of God. The study of the Bible is to deepen our understanding of our sinful
condition. I believe this is the reason why God gave us this Bible.
As the Pharisee studies the Bible diligently, does he come to a true picture of
himself? Correct reading of the Scripture brings us true humility. And this is the
true humility that God requires of us. That is to confess that we are not good enough
in the presence of God. What we have done is just our duties (Luke 17:10), and we
still need to beg for mercy every time we come to His presence in prayer.
Posted on January 06, 2008
