God Opposes the Proud But Shows Favor to the Humble (Luke 18:9-14)

Who is justified before God? The world exalts itself always. The world boasts of its achievements regardless of the failures and disappointments. The Book of Revelation reveals an unbelievable truth at the close of the book, “Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.” (Revelation 22:11) Our Lord Jesus teaches in a small parable who are justified before God. The Pharisee is offering his prayers with his own righteousness and exaltation, looking down on everyone and thinking that he is not like the tax collector because he fasts regularly and gives a tithe. But the tax collector offers his short prayer with a few words at a distance without looking up to heaven to have mercy on him, a sinner. Jesus tells that the tax collector goes home justified before God, not the Pharisee. Our Lord Jesus sees and knows the heart of man and does not show any favoritism based on what they do even with the tremendous dedication and commitment but how they do. God is spirit and searches worshipers who come to him in truth and in spirit. God knows and sees our heart, the real motive of coming to him. He never rejects anyone who comes in a broken and contrite heart and asks his pity. He welcomes and clothes them with the belt of righteousness so that they can stand before the throne of grace in boldness and confidence for Christ is defending the humble with his blood.

“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)

The parable is given to those who are confident of their own righteousness and look down on everyone else by our Lord Jesus. Who are these? Jesus explains who they are in the parable? The man who was a Pharisee stood by himself and prayed with the words of flattering and boasting himself. It wasn’t a prayer at all. The man never knows God who he is and what he is, nor does himself. He thinks that he is better than other people like robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. It may be true in the light of the world. It may be acceptable and reasonable to think that way in the wisdom of the world. But it is not true with God. Apostle Paul says in the Epistle to the Colossians, “Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.” (Colossians 3:25) And he says in the Epistle to the Romans that there is no one righteous, not even one in the sight of God. This is what the Scripture says over and over again that the human race is lost and fallen in Adam and has no way out in the world.

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18)

The fallen race has been doomed and locked in the dungeon of the devil’s hole until they are made righteous and holy in Christ Jesus. That’s the beginning of understanding what they are and who they are and why they are in truth and reality. God provided a way out of the power of darkness through the death of the Son Jesus Christ for anyone who believes in him. God is light and in him there is no darkness. He shines the light to reveal the truth, dispelling the darkness and illusions away. He has given the means to be known and revealed the truth. They are the Scripture, the nature, the body, the laws, the diseases, the sufferings, the present, the future, life, death, and many others.

The Scriptures never says like what the man in the parable said. There is no favoritism by blood and descent, religion, or even commitment and dedication, says the Scriptures. No one can judge others because their measurements are not complete and perfect at all but biased and crooked. What they see and know is very much limited and incomplete and even what they are sure of can be inaccurate and wrong. It is true that we do not know ourselves what we are and why we are. It was well demonstrated at the Last Supper when our Lord Jesus announced a shocking news that one of his disciples would betray him. Then, they were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord.?” (Matthew 26:21-22) So, Apostle Paul says in the Epistle to the Corinthians so pertinently that he would not even judge himself, nor would he care little if he were judged by the world.

“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.” (1 Corinthians 4:3)

So, the man in the parable prayed probably with the right posture religiously and piously, but he did it pointlessly and aimlessly. It is not the prayer offering which God desires his children to bring before him. He is the man who is confident of his own righteousness and looks down on everyone else. He boasted of fasting twice a week and giving a tenth of all. It may be perfectly acceptable to God but is not determined by the man who offered but by God who is the Lord of all. No matter how much dedication and commitment with regular fasting and giving they make, God is not pleased with them unless without a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). God knows and sees the heart of worshipers that he must be worshiped in truth and in spirit for he is spirit (John 4:24).

But in the parable there is the other man, a tax collector, who 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.” He is the man who has a few words but the very words worthy of being accepted by the God of holiness and righteousness. That’s the words we all humans can speak, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” That’s what Adam and Eve told to God in the Garden. Both accepted the fact that they ate the forbidden fruit, saying “I ate.” (Genesis 3:12-13) That’s what a prodigal son said to his father when he returned home, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:21) There is an eternal promise by God that he is faithful and just and forgive us if we confess our sins.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Listen to what our Lord Jesus concludes, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Jesus says that the tax collector went home justified before God. It is exactly what God promised in the Scriptures. "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble," says the Scripture (James 4:6). God endures in his long-suffering the sins and transgressions of humanity unpunished until they admit and repent of their wrongdoings and evil deeds before him (Romans 3:25). The marvelous love of God was well demonstrated in the Son's crucifixion on a cross where he paid the ransom payment for the sin of the world in full. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ eternally displays and exposes all the sins and transgressions of mankind in public. That's where we're supposed to be crucified and in fact by faith we're crucified with Christ for the wages of sin is death. And that's the only way to come to the Father for the blood of Christ cleanses and washes away the sin of the world. Our Lord Jesus was punished and forsaken and humiliated in our place in order to disarm the force of the devil once for all. By his wounds and scars we are healed and forgiven for he is our propitiation forever. The cross of our Lord Jesus is the way to triumphal victory for no death of the Son, no forgiveness of sins.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:15)

Our Lord Jesus said the people to repent for the kingdom of heaven was near. Jesus came to give the kingdom that is invisible and yet much more real and true to those who humbly receive the gift of faith in him. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) God blesses those who are humble and poor in spirit with the glorious kingdom of heaven. Who are the poor in spirit? They are the ones who know and understand that they are not worthy of coming to the Father by themselves like the tax collector did in the parable. They are the ones who just ask mercy and pity to the Lord because they are deeply troubled and distressed by their transgressions and sins and the love of God is drawing to him right there.

How do we know that we are wretched sinners? It is by his grace and mercy because no one can come to the Father unless he draws them (John 6:44). God is light and shines it out of darkness. Out of distress and dissatisfaction in the midst, some see the light of God. Out of misery and emptiness in the midst, some open their heart and see the light of God. Listening to the words of God, some see the great light in Jesus Christ. In the midst of desperate failures and downfalls, some look up to heaven for the mercy of God and receive the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Brewing the hatred and murderous threat in ignorance and unbelief, some are caught by the light of God like Apostle Paul. In the midst humdrum lives like fishing or collecting the tax, some are invited to follow the Lord of light like Peter and Matthew.

When we reach the point of humiliation and poverty in spirit, the hand of the Lord is right there to rescue and restore us to rest in him and even more abundantly. Peter walked on the water by listening to the words of Jesus but began to sink because he was afraid of the wind and waters. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him and walked together on the water to the boat (Matthew 14:29-30). Peter had nothing to do with his own might and experience, but to say, “Lord, save me!” Some lepers cried out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Jesus’ compassionate heart went to them who were healed and cleansed on the way to the priests (Luke 17:14-15).

Prayer: Our merciful and faithful Father in heaven, once again thank you for teaching us the truth that you oppose the proud and show the favor to the humble now and forevermore. May God help us to come unto you with a broken and a contrite heart and ask for your pity. In Christ’s name. Amen.

August 8, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Always Pray and Not Give Up (Luke 18:1-8)

This parable teaches us what true prayer is. We must be in prayer always, otherwise we faint. Prayer is not what we ask whatever we want to do or to get. Rather, prayer is what we ask whatever God wants to do and to be. In this parable, the Lord Jesus teaches us how much quickly our Father in heaven wants to answer the cry of his children to bring justice for his name’s sake. Our God cares with compassion and mercy for the cry of his children day and night. We have such a God who brings justice without delay because he knows what’s in need of us even before we come and ask him (Matthew 6:8). But at times and many a people says that their experience tells the slowness of God for their cry. It’s because we do not take it by faith that God has already answered our prayers. Our Lord Jesus tosses a question in the air at the end of the parable, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b) He is saying, “Will he see his children on earth in prayer, not in faint, when he comes again?”

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1)

It says we should always pray and not give up, which means if we don’t pray always then we shall give up. Either one, pray always or give up. So, it’s seriously significant for us to pray always. Why should we pray always? We’ve been made that way in the beginning, even before the creation of the world. Prayer is the expression of dependence on someone else. How much should we depend on in every way in our daily lives? We depend on air to breathe non-stop lifetime. We depend on plants and animals to sustain our lives. We depend on families, neighbors, and communities each other. We depend on sunshine in every way as well as all kinds of materials. Countries depend on others. Governments depend on taxpayers and vice versa. We cannot but depending on everything. That’s how we’ve been built and made from the beginning. In fact, we’ve been born to depend on none other than God himself who has made all things in heaven and on earth. We’ve been made alive in Christ Jesus to depend on his life now and forevermore for he is our true bread and true drink.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.’” (John 6:53-55)

That’s why we pray always and not give up. We’re always in need and the Lord God only can meet all the needs we yearn. Having devotions every morning, even very early in the morning is considered as prayer. But that’s not all. Having congregational prayers is also considered as prayer. It is so important to keep on doing it. But that’s not all either. True prayer is like breathing which shall be non-stop without fail. That’s why our Lord Jesus says we shall pray always and not give up. There are no prayer activities which fit to that kind of non-stop faithful dependence on him. It’s simply because we should do many other things than the devotionals and congregational prayers. We shall eat, talk, study, travel, clean, work, and do many other things. So, our Lord Jesus teaches us how we may always pray and not give up through a parable.

He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” (Luke 18:2-5)

There was a judge who was definitely arrogant and insolent and didn’t care anything but himself. He did not fear God and nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow who was poor and yet in need of justice for whatever the reason was. She was no one to go but to the judge and begged him justice. Obviously, he didn’t care but ignored her completely. But it was just for some time the judge refused to get her justice because she kept coming and pleading for justice. Finally, the judge said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!” And the Lord Jesus teaches the lesson out of the parable.

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:6-8)

Here the judge and the widow are not the main characters at all. Our Lord Jesus compares the proud and arrogant judge with the merciful and compassionate God the Father in heaven who will bring about justice for his children quickly and will not keep putting them off. Many Bible teachers have been teaching the parable as if we shall pray to God like this widow persistently, crying out day and night, until he answers. But it is not the point our Lord Jesus makes out of the parable at all. Our God is not like the judge who only cares himself. Our Lord Jesus is making a contrast between the unwilling judge with the compassionate God. We shall pray and cry out day and night. That is right because we are always in need. But our God does not keep putting us off like the judge does. He quickly answers the cry of his chosen ones without delay. That’s the key of this parable.

Then, why do many experience the delay of prayers sometimes quite a while and even many years of delay? Many people say that they pray day and night but there is no answer. It is not because God does not answer our prayers quickly but we do not take it by faith that he has already answered our prayers. Through this parable our Lord Jesus is saying that God is not like the unrighteous judge who is completely careless and selfish but like the one who cares his children with compassion and pity, listening and answering quickly to their cry and bringing justice at the right time which was set even before time began. Delaying experience of prayer doesn’t necessarily mean that God does not care nor answers because he is a compassionate and faithful God. At times he deliberately delays because he knows the right time to answer the cry of his children. Prophet Isaiah says that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways either.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

We do not see the whole picture or entire spectrum of what’s really going on behind what’s happening in our eyes. It’s impossible for us to know all. But we have a God who knows all and everything. He is compassionate and faithful that he sent his Son as he promised long ago at the right time that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God so loved the world and endured long-suffering for he wants to save all kinds of people, not losing anyone till he sent his Son Jesus Christ to redeem the world. Our prayer is not asking our own agenda to be accomplished at our time by means of the hands of God. It never be true prayer at all. Rather, our prayer must be asking him to do his will for the redemption of the world speedily just as he promised. Our God is zealous and faithful in keeping his promises.

There is the physical level of being answered of our prayers as well as and more importantly the spiritual level of being answered of our prayers. Even if it hasn’t been answered in the physical level but it may be answered in the realm of spirit. The Scriptures say that we’ve been crucified with Christ, buried with him, and raised with him from the dead (Galatians 2:20). How would it be possible when the Son was crucified we’ve not even born? It is true we weren’t there in the physical level but we were there with him in the realm of spirit because the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus is a timeless and eternal event. For example, we’ve been born of God and called righteous before him. As Christ suffered, so do we share in his sufferings. But the children born of God even rejoice in the sufferings for they produce perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3-4). The Scripture says that we rejoice in our sufferings, not after the sufferings are over. And we can rejoice in the midst of sufferings not because they are pleasurable or pleasant but because they come from God and will produce the fruits of perseverance though they are painful and hurting much. We can rejoice in our sufferings because God knows how much we can bear in the trials and he will provide a way out so that we can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Sufferings and trials are coming to wake us up to see through the truth and reality in our midst.

Christ is the perfect example of praying always and not give up. He was the man who was wrongly accused by his own people. He was the man who was stressed and pressured by the religious leaders with all kinds of accusations and strange questions. He was called a drunkard and the Beelzebub, the prince of demons. He was the man who was deserted by his own disciples. He was rebuked once and renounced three times by Peter, the top disciple. He was misunderstood by his own families as a mad man. Eventually, he was the man who was condemned to death by Sanhedrin because he was the Son of God and was handed over to the Gentiles and was crucified by the hand of Roman soldiers, receiving the punishment for the sin of the world. He was the man who was forsaken even by the Father in heaven.

But Jesus never lost his temper but remained calm and in peace and rest all the time. He answered all the questions they asked for testing. He healed all the patients brought to him. He even raised the dead. He healed many and opened his mouth to speak the truth about the kingdom of God. He loved his disciples to the end, even Judas who betrayed him. He spoke the truth before Pontius Pilate who let him crucified. He did not retaliate when he was reviled and accused but rather entrusted himself to God who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). The Scripture says that he learned obedience through what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8). He endured the cross for the joy set before, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

How could he demonstrate such a perfect and holy life as a man? Our Lord Jesus says that he was in the Father and the Father in him, which means he was always praying, relying on the Father every moment and step in the earthly life. The Father and the Son was one (John 17:11). The Son was always dependent on the Father, asking everything to the Father who answered him everything. Though Christ received all power in heaven and on the earth from the Father, he could do nothing by himself. That’s what our Lord says.

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” (John 5:19-20)

That’s the secret of Christ who always prayed and not gave up. He was in the Father and the Father in the Son. The Son asked everything to the Father and the Father gave the Son everything. Jesus never left the place of depending on the Father ever and the Father was pleased to give everything to the Son. Jesus Christ demonstrated such a mystery of life not for himself but for all of us in him. He demonstrated the life not as God but as a man, so that we in him may follow his footstep. That’s the gospel and true hope. Apostle Paul proclaims that we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, which means what God has is freely available to us (Romans 8:17).

Our Lord Jesus tosses a question in the air and leaves us to answer, saying “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b) Living by faith is the expression of praying always. Those who pray always shall live faith, not by sight. So, our Lord Jesus is saying that when he comes again he wants to see his children praying always.

Prayer: Thank you Father for Jesus who demonstrated a life in total dependence on the Father, so that we also may follow him and pray always and not give up. Thank you for teaching that we are always in need and only God can meet all the needs in Christ who has already met everything on the cross and risen from the dead. In Christ’s name. Amen.

August 2, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.