The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 185


The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 185

Luke 18:9-14 – Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ “I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah
Of all parables, this is my favorite as it is directed at our personal relationship to Christ. I think at times we are challenged and found a half a cup short when it comes to justifying our relationship with Jesus and judging another. It is, that is, if you carry about a self-righteous “mental attitude” about yourself that places you above others then ‘justification’ of your mental thoughts do not come from God the Father. This reward comes from you alone and what sort of eternal reward does one give to them self? Jesus the Messiah states clearly in verse 14 that these self-righteous people will be put down (humbled).
Our mental attitude is not a hidden part of our flesh, as a fact, our mental attitude hangs off of our human (sinful) nature like ornaments on a Christmas tree. In other words; “we may be in a religion that looks beautiful on the outside, but on the inside, we are filled with the sins of a dead man (see Matthew 23:27). We may be a child of God by faith in Jesus and be caught up in judging other too. One cannot speak to the children of God who are caught up judging others because they are “fleshly” or the old King James word – CARNAL. See 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.
Today we call this “sectarianism” we judge the teaching of others as inferior to our own, or we believe that our doctrines are better equipped to glorify God and edify man than others. This is a Pharisaical position, is it not? Now do not misunderstand! Church messages of the gospel are changing, changing so radically that in many churches today, a clear gospel is not heard. I am not discussing a trend of false teaching which is first introduced into the pulpit by eliminating the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-3. If we do not utilize the spiritual methods that God has provided for the church, then our doctrines are those of the persuasive words of man’s wisdom, vice the spiritual wisdom given to the mature in Christ.
Tis a lot to think about from just one small parable of Jesus, but we could go on but on another day!

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