09/06/2026
Happy Good News Sunday!
One of my favorite theological reversals that Jesus gives us in His parables is found in Luke 18:9–14. Here Jesus uses what would have seemed like a shocking example to His listeners to show us the enormous difference between how man often views righteousness and how God sees the heart.
Let’s read the text:
Luke 18:9–14
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.”
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”
What a contrast!
Look closely at the Pharisee’s prayer. Did you notice all the “I’s”? I am not like other men. I fast. I give.
He was standing before God listing all the reasons he believed he deserved to be considered righteous. He trusted in his religious accomplishments and even compared himself to others to prove his own goodness.
Then there is the tax collector.
Tax collectors were despised by the Jewish people. They collected taxes for Rome and were often associated with corruption and betrayal. Yet this man doesn’t approach God with a list of accomplishments. He doesn’t compare himself with someone worse. He doesn’t try to convince God that he deserves anything.
He simply cries out:
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
And then Jesus delivers the shocking reversal:
The tax collector went home justified before God—not the Pharisee.
Can you imagine the gasp from the crowd?
The respected religious leader believed himself righteous, while the despised tax collector knew that his only hope was the mercy of God. And according to Jesus, that is the man God justified.
That is such an important picture of the Gospel.
We aren’t made right with God because we can produce an impressive list of good works. We don’t earn righteousness by comparing ourselves to people we believe are worse than us. We come before God recognizing our need for His mercy.
The Pharisee essentially said, “Look at what I have done.”
The tax collector said, “Look at my need for You.”
What a difference.
Jesus ends the parable with a truth that turns the world’s thinking upside down:
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
That’s how God’s Kingdom works.
Real wisdom begins when we stop trying to establish our own righteousness and instead seek Him and His righteousness.
Have a blessed Good News Sunday!
