The temple was alive with the shuffle of sandals on stone, the murmur of prayers rising like incense, and the flicker of oil lamps casting shadows against ancient walls.
In that sacred space, a man stepped forward.
He stood tall, his robes immaculate, and his eyes lifted.
He cleared his throat, and words of prayer rang out confidently:
"I thank you, God, that I am not like other people — cheaters, sinners, adulterers." (Luke 18:11)
His gaze wandered to the edge of the temple where another man knelt, and he added, “I’m certainly not like that tax collector.” (Luke 18:11)
He lifted his chin slightly higher, “I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my income.” (Luke 18:12)
But in the shadows, the tax collector stood apart.
He hesitates, his body hunched as though the very air pressed down on him.
He did not dare lift his eyes.
He could not.
Guilt had sunk its claws into his soul.
Shame has wrapped itself around his heart.
Finally, he kneels, beats his chest, and whispers in desperation: “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
The air in the temple grew still as though heaven itself was leaning in.
You see, one man saw himself as flawless, basking in his own virtue. The other saw the stains on his soul and begged for mercy.
One man measured his worth by his actions. The other measured his need by the grace of the Savior he longed for.
Jesus’s words cut through the silence:
“I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
Each word of the religious man formed a wall between him and God. He built a fortress of self-sufficiency and self-righteousness around him.
Each word of the broken plea of a non-religious man reached into God's heart and tore down the barriers between heaven and earth.
🕊️ In humility and surrender, there is space for God's grace. Jesus wants to be your Savior, too.🕊️