Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust: “Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like everyone else—crooks, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.” (Luke 18:9-14, CEB)
God have mercy on me a sinner…
Do we lift ourselves up or put others down, or neither?
One person prayed that he does everything right, which if he is human we know is a lie, and said he is glad he is not like the tax collector. Actually in reality none of us is any better than the next person. We are all sinners and we all put our pants on 1 leg at a time. And we all have no place to boast because we all fall short.
Pray for God to forgive you a sinner and to forgive all sinners rather than heap on big words and platitudes that do you, your neighbor, or God any good.
Loving People. Loving God
aSacredRebel 