Have you ever thought about this man (the tax collector) praying in Luke 18: 13? He who would not so much raise his eyes to heaven…
This man has some standing before God; You know why? Because he humbles himself as kneeling in prayer before Him. As we have been studying the first part of the beatitudes in Matthew 5, do we not see some of these characteristics in this man? We often read and pass over this passage of scripture and not realize how much it talks to us today. Christ spoke this parable specifically to those (to us) who trust in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.
Let us quickly see about this tax collector in comparison to the pharisee praying in the temple.
See that the Lord contrasts the pictures of a self-justifying man, and a man that He justifies.
First, this man recognized that he was a sinner (a tax collector) therefore he asks for mercy. He realized his bankruptcy and could not mention any of his merit, deed, knowledge, and qualification before the Lord. Contrary to self-centered, egotistic, knowledgeable Pharisee who was bragging and praying with himself.
This tax collector happened to be an example of what it meant to be poor in spirit in the way he approached the Lord in prayer. Because prayer is the language of the poor in spirit. The self-righteous man on the other hand did not truly pray as he is too much self-centered, therefore he cannot pray to God but points back his prayer to himself, puffing himself up as if he were better than others. How do we come before God in prayer? How do we think about our neighbors in their relationship to the Lord?
Notice that this tax collector did not only asked for mercy, but he beats his breast. We know that this is an extreme expression for the Jews that shows their sorrow and sadness. It was outward sign that showed the inward contrition and brokenness. This tax collector was grieved over his state, to the point that he called himself a sinner and beats his chest. Therefore, it is written, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
The third characteristic we notice in this tax collector is found in Matthew 6:5: And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.
But about this tax collector it is written, contrary to the habit of the Pharisee, that he stood afar off, not desiring to be seen by men, not wanting to show off, separating himself at a distance that he might pray. He would not so much raise his eyes to heaven. How humble this is! This describes someone who knows that he must decrease, and Christ must increase. Someone who knows that he is nothing unless the Lord has mercy on him. He has nothing to offer but comes with his sins and hopes for the Lord’s grace. He does not compare himself to anyone but comes just as he is.
He who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 18:14; James 4:6).
As a conclusion from the words of Christ, this tax collector was not only exalted but went home justified rather than the Pharisee. That here is exactly what it means to be blessed.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
I have often said that there are two things that the church today lacks. While we may have great sermons in the pulpit, sing good spiritual songs, have our programs and attendance going on, we do lack two important things among many: these are evangelism and prayer.
If we would have an introspection as a follower of Christ, do we pray at all? If so, do we see ourselves praying like this tax collector? For this is the attitude that the Lord blesses. A broken and contrite heart, these the Lord will not despise (Psalm 51:17).
Leonard Ravenhill said that:
“No Christian is greater than his prayer life… the people who are not praying are straying.”
While we meditate on these words, remember that what we know ourselves to be, and the way we see others is crucial to our attitude in prayer before the Lord.
