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DON’T BE LIKE THE PHARISEE (LUKE 18:9-14)

REFLECTION

The theme for reflection is “Don’t be like the pharisee” In the context of Luke 18:9-14, the Pharisee is a person who arrogantly exalts himself over others. Don’t be like the Pharisee means do not be an arrogant or pompous believer or worshipper. We shall reflect on the following facts:
1. self-righteousness breeds arrogance and arrogance renders us unjustified before the Lord.
2. Repentance breeds humility and humility renders us justified and exalted before the Lord.

Firstly, self-righteousness breeds arrogance or pride and it renders us unjustified or unacceptable before God. God is the one who declares us righteous or justified, hence, any act of self-righteousness, self-justification or “a holier than thou” posture leads to pride and greatly displeases God. It is for this reason, “Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ 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. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “(Luke 18:9-12) Let us not be like the Pharisee who demonstrated self-righteousness and arrogance in the House of God when he projected himself and looked down on another worshipper. We are greatly admonished in Proverbs 16:5 that “Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the LORD; Be assured he will not go unpunished.” Another form of self-righteousness and arrogance or pride in the house of the Lord is to repeatedly exclaim “Tell them!” when the sermon is being preached as if to say the sermon is not meant for us but for others. In other words, we assume the sermon is not meant for us the righteous ones but meant for the sinners sitting around us. Our self-righteousness makes us assume that the sermon is meant for that particular sister or brother sitting over there. We must desist from such blatant demonstrations of pride, emptiness and spiritual ignorance in the house of God, for “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18). Again, “When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:16-17) Dear friend, the house of God is not for self-righteous Pharisees, it is for repentant and humble tax collectors and sinners who deserve the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Who are you when appear before God, a pharisee or a tax collector? In your daily interactions with others, how do you see yourself, a self-righteous pharisee or a repentant tax collector or sinner?

Secondly, repentance breeds humility and humility renders us justified and acceptable before God. It is for this reason Jesus said, “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.’ ¹⁴ “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 18:13-14). Repentance is an act of total submissiveness to the will and sovereignty of God through Jesus Christ. Through repentance and humility before God, we receive the grace or mercy of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9). We saw the Pharisee boasting with the works of fasting and tithing as the basis for his righteousness. Dear friend in the Lord, good works are important signs of our stewardship and faith in God but our good works must not breed self-righteousness, arrogance and an over-bloated sense of self-importance over others in the house of God. The fact that we give huge amounts of tithe and offerings does not make us holier than others or automatically qualify us for heaven. What is required of us is humility in the form of repentance and regeneration before the Lord, for Jesus assures us that ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) The tax collected was blessed, justified and exalted because he was humble acknowledged his spiritual poverty before the Lord and yearned for His mercy and salvation. How do you appear before the Lord, do you approach Him with a repentant heart and a humble posture or do you come before Him with your self-righteousness? It is only when we have been forgiven and justified that we have the privilege to boast in Christ. It is for this reason Paul said “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” In other words, the source of our pride and boasting should never be our self-righteousness but solely on our salvation in Christ Jesus. Indeed, to demonstrate our pride, joy and salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ devoid of self-righteousness, the psalmist teaches us to say, “In God, we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. (Psalms 44:8)

In summary, we have reflected on the theme, “Don’t be like the Pharisee” We have learnt that self-righteousness breeds arrogance and arrogance renders us unjustified before the Lord. Again, repentance breeds humility and humility renders us justified and exalted before the Lord therefore we are greatly encouraged to boast of our salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ. Shalom.

PRAYER
Almighty God, purge us of any form of self-righteousness and pride and may the Holy Spirit dwell in us to live a life of total humility through repentance and regeneration through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.