City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” 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.”’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Luke 18:9-14

If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud…If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity p 128

A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity p 124

Exegesis

Pharisees were considered righteous by the Jews and they definitely wanted to look the part. The Pharisee wasn’t praying to God, he was dictating a love letter to himself from himself. He may not have broken any Commandments that were visible to others, but he broke the First as he made an idol of himself.

The tax collector was doubly reviled as a cheat and a traitor as he worked for the Roman Empire and likely charged more than necessary for taxes from his own people. But he was repentant. This attitude elevated him in Jesus’ eyes.

Jesus says in in the Bible three times in three different situations (once in Matthew, twice in Luke), including this one, that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Application

In nearly every addiction recovery program, the first step towards recovery is admitting the person has a problem. The tax collector admitted his shortcomings and was making the first step. It takes a great amount of courage, strength, and especially humility for a person to admit they have a problem and need help. We have the problem of sin and need help from Jesus, and when we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, He exalted us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, show me any areas of ungodly pride in my life and help me to combat it with humility. Thank You for humbling Yourself to save me. In Your Name I pray, Amen.