Like you and me – what if I’m not like you?
Series: Like you and me | Bible text: Luke 18:9–14
How do we manage to stand together despite all our idiosyncrasies and differences? In the Bible we meet two men in the temple who avoid each other. Both have something to say to us!
Have you ever experienced Jesus preaching to you personally? Through an experience, a person or an image – in a dream or in front of your eyes?
Rosmarie and I wanted children soon after we got married, but we had to wait 8 years for that wish to come true. During this time of infertility I also suffered from infertility in my ministry. The birth of the daughter was then a personal sermon from Jesus to me! It read: «What is barren in your eyes is not so in mine. Remember that, Bernard, also for your ministry!» That was a personal sermon from Jesus addressed to me! I’m sure you’ve experienced this too. Why don’t you tell each other about your personal sermons from Jesus over coffee later?
Jesus preaches to only a few and sometimes even to individuals
It happened back then, when Jesus was in this world, that he sometimes addressed a sermon only to a very specific group of people, or even only to individuals. Such a sermon by Jesus is introduced in the Gospel of Luke with the following words: «But he said to some who presumed to be devout and despised the others, this parable…» And it was as follows: «Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a publican. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed like this: I thank thee, O God, that I am not like other men, robbers, swindlers, adulterers, or even like this publican. I fast twice a week and tithe everything I take in. But the publican stood afar off, neither would he lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner. I say unto you: This man went down to his house justified, and not that man. For he that exalteth himself shall be abased: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:9–14 LU).
Aren’t we looking at a Bible passage that doesn’t concern us at all? That doesn’t happen here! We do not despise other Christians, but live as it says in Philippians: «Do not be selfish; do not strive to make a good impression on others, but be humble and esteem others more highly than yourselves» (Philippians 2:3 NL). What Jesus tells us to do, we do! And when he tells us… «I command you to love one another as I love you». (John 15:12 NL).
…then we love each other just as he loves us – don’t we? We suspect it, perhaps this text has more to do with us than we think. The disciples once asked themselves who was the greatest among them! By what did they measure themselves? Who prays the most? Who had the most faith? Or who was the most fruitful in their commitment to Jesus?
Those who compare themselves with others very quickly see themselves as better than everyone else. «But he said to some who presumed to be pious and despised the others…» Others translate «pious» with: «…false self-confidence», or with: «self-righteous».
The parable
«Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a publican.» Jesus sees himself in a temple in his mind and makes two short videos of two totally different people, a Pharisee and a tax collector. «11 The Pharisee stood for himself.…» The Pharisee stood alone… What distance is expressed there! There must have been others in the temple at the same time. But the Pharisee stands apart! Self-righteousness and arrogance create distance; feeling better than others makes one lonely! What a contrast Jesus is. He went towards the people. The closer he was to them, the more comfortable he was – he was a real attraction for guilt-ridden and worldly people. When Jesus and his disciples were invited to Matthew’s house for a meal, other tax collectors came too, as well as people who were considered sinners. They wanted to be there too! (Matthew 9:10)
«11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed thus: I thank thee, O God, that I am not as other men, robbers, swindlers, adulterers, or even as this publican.» The Pharisee prays. That’s good for a change, but like this?! It would have been better if he had prayed: «Actually, I am like other people, robbers, cheats, etc.; I thank you God that you are merciful to me.» Just as Paul writes in Romans: «For all men have sinned and lost life in the glory of God. But God declares us righteous by grace. It is his gift to us through Jesus Christ who has freed us from our guilt» (Romans 3:23–24 NL).
According to the Pharisee, there were only two types of people: Namely, Pharisees and all others. But according to the Gospel there are only a kind of people. The only difference is faith in Jesus Christ and the gift of his grace. With the Pharisee, it is not God who makes the difference, but he himself with all his pious posturing:
«12 I fast twice a week and tithe everything I take…» If we ask ourselves what this text is supposed to have to do with us, perhaps we do need to ask ourselves some questions: What do you think you are capable of? Your knowledge of the Bible, your prayer life, your courage to talk to others about your faith? Your spiritual gifts, perhaps your gift of tongues? On your tireless work here in the church? On your giving? There is no difference, we all have the forgiveness of our sins. not deserves. The Pharisee and the tax collector could have shaken hands! It is always the people who make differences. We can rely on absolutely nothing imagine something. What God from you and with is subject to his sovereignty. No merits count there! There is nothing for us to measure. There we have to pretend to ourselves and to no one. We have nothing to represent but Christ alone in us.
«I fast twice a week and tithe everything I take in.» As if that would count for an open door in heaven! The Pharisee was convinced that he did not need Jesus because he was good enough and lived according to their self-made laws. Jesus says nothing against fasting, nor against tithing – these are good and biblical spiritual rules. But to presume on them makes the good worthless – and that is a pity! What a blatant, opposite picture the tax collector gives:
«13 But the publican stood afar off, neither would he lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner.» The Pharisee looks at himself when praying and stands before a demanding God. Whereas the tax collector stands before the holy God.
He sees himself in God’s ray of light and can hardly stand it because of his guilt. His prayer is short and consists of only 5 words: «God, be merciful to me a sinner»! Jesus concludes the parable with the words:
«14 I say to you: This one went down justified into his house, not that one. For he that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.» How does that work: Humiliating yourself? Certainly not with sentences like: «I can’t do anything, I’m incapable or I’m just bad…»! Give thanks daily for Jesus Christ, who has made your life so valuable through his grace.
Often we Christians are appalled by the behaviour of non-Christians and tend to look down on them and keep our distance. Only the love of Jesus keeps us from being arrogant towards them. Pray again and again for your neighbours who have not yet discovered Jesus and his love. With your prayers and your love for them, you make yourself attractive with your faith and are not a pious person who is repulsive.
Paul’s prayer in Psalm 139 saves us from a pharisaical view of others: «Search me, O God, and know what is going on in my heart; test me and know my thoughts! See if I have taken a path that would lead me away from you, and guide me in the way that endures forever!» (Psalm 139:23–24 NCC). It is frightening what can happen in our hearts! Open your heart before God; let him cleanse it. Our hearts need to be examined and cleansed again and again. It is like the heart of a coffee machine! In our machine, the brewing unit has to be cleaned regularly. Otherwise, what comes out is not of good quality! Before his death, Moses made a promise to the people of Israel with which I would like to conclude this sermon:
«The Lord your God will be your Heart and the hearts of your descendants cleanso that you may love him sincerely and with all your strength and remain alive». (Deut. 30:6 NL).
Amen
Possible questions for the small groups or for personal concern
Read the Bible text: Luke 18:9–14
- Tell each other about «sermons» that Jesus gave you personally.
- Respect others more than yourselves – discuss the possibilities and limits of this call.
- Jesus was an attraction for outsiders; why are we Christians often repulsive to other people. How could this change?
- Humiliating yourself – how do you do it?
- What could you be imagining, but you deliberately don’t?
- How often and how do you cleanse your heart?
- Pray for each other, that all may be light and salt for Jesus where they live.
