The Gospel of Luke 18:9-12 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” (Luke 18:9-12 KJV).

This parable shows a head-on collision between self-righteousness versus reliance on God's grace. They are represented by an arrogant Pharisee and the often looked down publican or tax collector, respectively. We should note that our Lord Jesus Christ directed this story specifically to those who view themselves as righteous by their own work, and look down on others as sinners. But, in reality the self-righteous Pharisee also sins, not in his brags of fasting, and tithing, but in trusting on his own efforts rather than God’s grace.

Our Lord Jesus spoke this lesson to those who trusted on and compare their perceived work of righteousness with others they judge as sinners. This brings to light the Pharisee’s and many others’ with religious mindset based on human performance. The Pharisee boasts of his fasting and tithing, as if it matters apart from grace.

In a grace-based faith, the issue isn't that he fasted or paid tithes, but that he trusted in these actions for his standing before God, rather than relying entirely on God’s grace. His “prayer” is actually a form of self-exaltation, while demeaning everybody else, revealing a heart full of pride and of self-worship, rather than worshipping God in Christ Jesus - the Creator and Redeemer. The Lord clearly warns against this attitude, as it is written: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” (Matthew 23:12-13 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!


Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

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