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August 30, 2021

A Humble Sinner in Need of Propitiation

Luke 18:9 And He told this parable also to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised the rest: (10) Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (11) The Pharisee stood and prayed these things to himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. (12) I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get. (13) But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be propitiated to me, the sinner! (14) I tell you, This man went down to his house justified rather than that one; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.

In verses 10 through 14 the Lord tells a parable of two men who "went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector" (v. 10). The Lord often used tax collectors and Pharisees as examples. The Pharisee's word in verse 11, where he thanks God that he is not like the rest of men, does not sound like a prayer at all; instead, it sounds like an accusation of others. Likewise, his word in verse 12 about fasting and paying tithes does not sound like a prayer, but rather like an arrogant boast to God. Therefore, in his prayer the Pharisee was accusing others and boasting to God. In verse 13 we see that the despised, accused, and condemned tax collector prayed in the way of humbling himself to the uttermost... His prayer implies the need of a Redeemer and also the need of propitiation. The tax collector realized how his sinfulness offended God. Hence, he asked God to be propitiated, to be appeased toward him by a propitiation, so that God may be merciful and gracious to him. This humble person realized that he was nothing but a sinner. Because he offered up a prayer that was based upon God's propitiation, he "went down to his house justified" (v. 14). Actually, to repent and confess our sins is to humble ourselves. All saved ones are those who have been humbled and subdued. When I was young, I was proud and arrogant, never willing to admit that I was wrong. But one day the Spirit caught me, and I was convinced, humbled, and subdued. It seemed to me that no one was as sinful as I was. My attitude was the exact opposite of what it had been before. I can testify from experience that a saved person is a humble, subdued person. We need to humble ourselves to such an extent that we consider ourselves nobody and nothing (c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry.

Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Luke, pp. 353-356. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].

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Life-study of Luke