Luke 18:9-14 [He That Humbleth Himself Shall Be Exalted]

[Things to Meditate On]

1. In the time of Jesus, “publicans,” or tax collectors, worked for the Roman government in collecting taxes. It is said that they often collected more than the amount that was originally required and took the difference for themselves. Because of this, they became people who were criticized, rejected, and hated by others at that time. On the other hand, the “Pharisees” were people who prided themselves on keeping the law of God more zealously than anyone else. For this reason, when Jesus spoke the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, He said that there was a “Pharisee” who thought of himself as righteous, while the “publican” thought of himself as a sinner. Then what did the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable do that made him think he was righteous in himself (verses 11-12)?

2. Through the passage above, we can once again realize that “man’s thoughts” and “Jesus’ thoughts” are different (Isaiah 55:8-9). This is because, contrary to the thoughts of the Pharisee who trusted in himself that he was righteous, Jesus said instead that the publican was justified rather than the Pharisee. Why did Jesus say this (verse 14)?

3. Through the passage above, we must remember that the only One who can judge us as “righteous” or “exalted” is Jesus. No matter how much people may praise us, and no matter how righteous we may consider ourselves to be, that is only the thought of people and of ourselves; there is no guarantee at all that Jesus will think the same way. Rather, the one who was not acknowledged by people may later be counted righteous by Jesus through mourning and repentance.

Matthew 21:28-32 “28But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”

[Decision and Application]

No matter how many righteous deeds we may have done until now, before Jesus, who is righteous, we can only remain sinners (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Therefore, we must always be humble before Jesus and also before people. But if we are not humble, and instead exalt ourselves and boast in ourselves in order to be acknowledged by people, then in the end we will rather be brought low and put to shame (Matthew 23:2-12).

Matthew 23:2-12 “2The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat... 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi... 11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Luke 14:7-11 “7And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Therefore, from now on, we must humbly lower ourselves before the word of Jesus. We must exalt Jesus and lower ourselves—that is, our own wisdom and the things of this world (2 Corinthians 10:5). And rather than boasting in ourselves and in the things of this world, we must seek to make known the name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17). When we exalt the name of Jesus and humble ourselves in this way, Jesus will also exalt us on the day when He comes again to this earth as King of kings (1 Peter 5:5-6).

2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

1 Peter 5:5-6 “5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”

Amen.