The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
\nOctober 23, 2016
\nLuke 18:9-14<\/p>\n
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:\u00a0 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.\u00a0 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself:\u00a0 ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men\u2014robbers, evildoers, adulterers\u2014or even like this tax collector.\u00a0 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of\u00a0 all I get.’\u00a0 But the tax collector stood at a distance.\u00a0 He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’\u00a0 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.\u00a0 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”<\/em>\u00a0 (NIV1984)<\/p>\n Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n I learned something this past week.\u00a0 I learned that when I go to District gatherings these days I really wish they would give everyone a name tag.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s because I\u2019ve gotten a little older or maybe it\u2019s because I am one of the new guys in the District or maybe it\u2019s because I\u2019ve gotten a little older, but I hardly recognize anyone!\u00a0 Even when a face looks familiar, the name is usually just beyond my reach.\u00a0 In fact, even some of the men with whom I went to school look very different than I remember them!\u00a0 Nametags would make talking to someone so much easier!\u00a0 Those of you who attend conferences or school reunions can easily relate to how important name tags can be.<\/p>\n Name tags, however, are not reserved exclusively for events such as conferences and school reunions.\u00a0 Many if not most people either consciously or unconsciously wear an invisible name tag each and every day, an invisible name tags that reveals who they are\u2014 or think they are.\u00a0 Let me show you what I mean.\u00a0 Have you ever known anyone who wears an invisible name tag that says, \u201cPretty\u201d or \u201cPopular\u201d or \u201cPowerful\u201d?\u00a0 Have you ever known anyone who wears an invisible name tag that says, \u201cStrong\u201d or \u201cSuccessful\u201d or \u201cSmart\u201d?\u00a0 It\u2019s not difficult to think of names, is it.\u00a0 We watch how a person acts, we listen to how a person talks and it is pretty easy to see what their invisible name tags says about who they are\u2014 or think they are!\u00a0 But when was the last time you saw someone wearing an invisible name tag that said, \u201cSinner\u201d?\u00a0 When was the last time you <\/strong>wore an invisible name tag that said \u201cSinner\u201d?<\/p>\n The sermon text that we have before us this morning gives us the opportunity to look at the invisible name tag that we are wearing and see what it says concerning us.\u00a0 As we conclude our sermon series entitled As Disciples of Jesus\u2026 <\/em><\/strong>let\u2019s see how this portion of Scripture leads us to stop and remember this truth:\u00a0 As Disciples of Jesus\u2014 We Know Who We Are.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 We know who we are by nature.\u00a0 We know who we are by grace.<\/p>\n Much like the parable we looked at last Sunday (the Parable of the Persistent Widow) Luke reveals to us exactly why Jesus gave us the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.\u00a0 Look at the opening verse of our text.\u00a0 This parable is intended for everyone who is \u201cconfident of their own righteousness\u2026\u201d<\/em> or that could be translated, \u201cconvinced in themselves that they are righteous.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This parable is intended for anyone who is \u201clooking down on others,\u201d<\/em> or that could be translated, \u201cdespising or treating others with contempt.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And to make it unmistakably clear how dangerous it is to wear an invisible name tag that says \u201cPerfect\u201d or at least, \u201cBetter than you!\u201d\u2014 look at the closing verse of our text.\u00a0 Jesus speaks words that we will definitely want to take to heart:\u00a0 \u201cI tell you that this man<\/em> (the tax collector), rather than the other<\/em> (the Pharisee), went home justified before God<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n With that in mind let\u2019s look at this very powerful parable and see how it gives us the opportunity to look at ourselves <\/strong>and say, \u201cWe know who we are.\u201d\u00a0 First of all, as disciples of Jesus we know who we are\u2014 by nature.\u00a0 Look at the first portion of this parable.\u00a0 Jesus says, \u201cTwo men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.\u00a0 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself:\u00a0 \u2018God, I thank you that I am not like other men\u2014 robbers, evildoers, adulterers\u2014 or even like this tax collector.\u00a0 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I own.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It is not difficult to see the arrogance, the pride and the ego of this Pharisee.\u00a0 He has the arrogance to go into the Temple of the Living God and pray\u2014 not to God, but \u201che prayed about himself.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 He proudly compares himself to the least respectable members of his society\u2014 \u201crobbers, evildoers, adulterers and tax collectors\u201d<\/em>\u2014 and then he proudly thanks God that he is better than them all.\u00a0 His ego leads him to list ways in which he not only keeps the requirements of God\u2019s Law, but he exceeds those requirements.\u00a0 While God\u2019s Law required God\u2019s people to fast once a year\u2014 on the great Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27; Psalm 35:13) \u2014 he fasts twice a week!\u00a0 While God\u2019s Law required God\u2019s people to give back to their Lord a tenth of everything that grew in the fields and on the trees and a tenth of all the offspring of the flocks and herds (Leviticus 27:30, 32; Deuteronomy 14:22), his offering to the Lord consisted of a tenth of everything he was \u201cacquiring,\u201d<\/em> a tenth of everything he was \u201cgaining.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 His arrogance, his pride and his ego led him to be convinced in his own mind and in his own heart that he was \u201crighteous\u201d<\/em> before God \u2014 especially compared to all the \u201cothers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Now it\u2019s quite easy for us to sit here in God\u2019s house today and shake our heads as we listen to this Pharisee \u201cpray about himself.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What is far more difficult and yet far more necessary is to realize that this is who we<\/strong> are\u2014 by nature!\u00a0 Our old sinful nature is the most self-righteous little Pharisee that we will ever meet.\u00a0 If we do feel guilty about something we have done, our old sinful nature simply looks around until it can arrogantly say, \u201cWell, at least I <\/strong>haven\u2019t done anything near as bad <\/strong>as what so-and\u2013so did!\u201d\u00a0 And to bolster our own egotistical opinion of ourselves our old sinful nature proudly keeps track of what we <\/strong>have done and what we <\/strong>are doing:\u00a0 \u201cI<\/strong> am in church pretty much every week.\u00a0 I<\/strong> have served on pretty much every board and every committee there is.\u00a0 I<\/strong> am sure that I<\/strong> am one of the biggest givers in the congregation.\u00a0 I<\/strong>\u2026I<\/strong>\u2026I<\/strong>\u2026.\u00a0 That is the focus of the sinful nature that lives inside each and every one of us.\u00a0 While we may not want to admit it, our old sinful nature is no different than the self-righteous Pharisee here in this parable.<\/p>\n Let me give you an example of how this plays out in real life.\u00a0 This is a true story.\u00a0 A pastor once told the story about a man whom we will call \u201cJoe.\u201d\u00a0 Joe was a part of the \u201ccore\u201d of the congregation that this pastor was serving.\u00a0 If the pastor needed anything he called on Joe.\u00a0 If the congregation needed anything Joe was right there.\u00a0 The time came when Joe was dying.\u00a0 One night Joe\u2019s wife called the pastor and asked if he could come over to the house.\u00a0 Joe was not doing well.\u00a0 As the pastor sat at Joe\u2019s bedside talking about what was waiting for Joe after he died, Joe said something that makes a pastor\u2019s heart smile.\u00a0 He said, \u201cPastor, I am not afraid to die.\u201d\u00a0 But then, before the pastor could say another word, Joe continued, \u201cI\u2019ve done everything I was supposed to do.\u00a0 I always agreed to serve on whatever board the congregation needed me on.\u00a0 I always gave as much as I possibly could\u2014 whether it was time or money or whatever.\u00a0 I\u2019ve done everything I was supposed to do.\u00a0 I\u2019m not afraid to die because I don\u2019t have anything to worry about.\u201d\u00a0 Shocked and completely caught off guard the pastor tried to point Joe to the cross and remind him of what Jesus had done for him there, but Joe wanted nothing to do with it. He was convinced that he had nothing to fear because he had done everything the church had ever asked him to do.\u00a0 Frustrated\u2014 and yes, a little bit angry\u2014 the pastor put on his coat and hat to leave.\u00a0 But before he left he turned around and said to Joe, \u201cWhen you get to hell, don\u2019t say hi to the devil for me!\u201d\u00a0 No sooner had the pastor gotten home when the phone rang.\u00a0 It was Joe\u2019s wife.\u00a0 She very quietly said, \u201cWill you please come back?\u00a0 He\u2019s crying.\u201d\u00a0 The pastor went back to Joe\u2019s house and shared with him a basic Law\/Gospel message emphasizing the simple message of the Gospel\u2014 the Good News of what Jesus had done for <\/strong>him.\u00a0 Joe died soon thereafter and now the pastor was able to give him a beautiful Gospel-oriented Christian funeral.\u00a0 But imagine, my friends.\u00a0 Imagine if Joe had died suddenly or unexpectedly.\u00a0 Imagine if Joe had been in a car accident or was the victim of a violent crime.\u00a0 Imagine Joe standing before the Almighty Judge of the living and the dead, the eternal Son of God who shed His holy precious blood to pay for all of Joe\u2019s sins.\u00a0 Imagine Jesus asking Joe, \u201cWhy should I let you live in My heavenly Home?\u201d only to have Joe say, \u201cBecause I did everything I was supposed to do!\u201d\u00a0 Not good.\u00a0 Not acceptable.<\/p>\n That true story reminds us of how important it is for us to remember that by nature we <\/strong>are Joe.\u00a0 By nature we <\/strong>are the Pharisee here in Jesus\u2019 parable.\u00a0 If we do not recognize that truth, if we put our confidence in thinking that we don\u2019t have to fear death because we have done everything we\u2019re \u201csupposed\u201d to do, if we put our confidence in thinking that we don\u2019t need to fear death because at least we\u2019re a whole lot better than a whole bunch of other people we know\u2014 we are in for a very rude awaking when we die.<\/p>\n Thankfully, there is another part to Jesus\u2019 parable!\u00a0 Look at verse thirteen of our text.\u00a0 Jesus says, \u201cBut the tax collector stood at a distance.\u00a0 He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, \u2018God, have mercy on me, a sinner.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The tax collector is the spiritual polar opposite of the Pharisee, isn\u2019t he.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to get too close to the other worshipers and perhaps disturb their worship by his mere presence.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to hear nor did he need to hear what the Pharisee was praying.\u00a0 He already knew all too well what people said about him and what people thought of him. He didn\u2019t pray about himself.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t compare himself to others.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t even allow himself to lift up his eyes to heaven.\u00a0 Since he knew who he was by nature, he stood at a distance, kept beating his chest and kept asking God for just one thing\u2014 \u201cmercy.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cGod, have mercy on me, a sinner.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As disciples of Jesus we come here to God\u2019s house confessing who we are by nature\u2014 \u201csinners.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 As disciples of Jesus we come here to God\u2019s house recognizing that in God\u2019s eyes a sin is a sin is a sin.\u00a0 Just because we have not committed the same sins as Sally, just because our sins may not be as obvious or as public as Joe\u2019s that does not make us any less guilty in the eyes of a holy, just, perfect and all-knowing God.\u00a0 At the same time, however, when we come here to God\u2019s house confessing who we are by nature and then like this tax collector we beat our breast and cry out, \u201cGod, have mercy on me, a sinner!\u201d<\/em> our Savior God always answers the same way.\u00a0 He gently lifts up our eyes to the cross of His Son and He softly says to us, \u201cMy dear child, look\u2014 I already have!\u201d<\/p>\n Do you know what that means, my friends?\u00a0 It means that as disciples of Jesus we know who we are\u2014 purely by the amazing grace of the Lord our God!\u00a0 We are <\/strong>forgiven!\u00a0 We are <\/strong>\u201cjustified\u201d<\/em>!\u00a0 We have been <\/strong>\u201cDeclared:\u00a0 Not Guilty!\u201d<\/em> by the Almighty God Himself!\u00a0 We are <\/strong>the dearly beloved adopted children of the heavenly Father.\u00a0 (Pointing to the Baptismal font)\u00a0 No matter what anyone else says about us, no matter what anyone else thinks of us, no matter how anyone else treats us, no matter how many times Satan reminds us of what we have done or what we have failed to do,\u00a0 this cross reminds us of who we are<\/strong>\u2014 by grace!<\/p>\n My prayer then this morning, my friends, is that as disciples of Jesus we will indeed be conscious of who we are!\u00a0 When we recognize that our old sinful nature is no different than the proud self-righteous Pharisee here in our text, then I pray that we will daily ask the good Lord to help us keep that old bugger in check.\u00a0 And when we recognize that purely by His amazing grace the Lord our God daily showers us His mercy, then I pray that both the actions of our life and the words of our mouth will reveal to everyone around us that we are humbly wearing that precious, priceless, invisible name tag which says, \u201cA Forgiven Child of God!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost October 23, 2016 Luke 18:9-14 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:\u00a0 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.\u00a0 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself:\u00a0 ‘God, I thank you that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=737"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":738,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions\/738"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}