The
Filthy Rags
*Jesus
was a master storyteller, often using parables to make a point. A parable is a
story that contains one simple message. In this case, he directed the story to
those who thought they were right with God because they trusted in themselves.
Luke
18:9-10
“And
he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were
righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the
one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.”
--The people who lived near
Jerusalem often went to the temple to pray. The temple was the center of their
worship.—
**In
the Jewish culture of that day, Pharisees were viewed as meticulous keepers of
Moses’ law. In contrast, the tax
collectors were considered to be crooks. Now there were two people from
opposite ends of the moral spectrum, praying in the same place. **
(The
Pharisee)
Luke
18:11-12
“The
Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not
as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I
fast twice in the week , I give tithes of all that I possess.”
**In
patting himself on the back, the Pharisee mentioned only a couple of things
that he did not do. His list could have been lengthy. But that didn’t matter.
The way he prayed showed the attitude of his heart. He was relying on his own
right living (or good works) to make himself righteous before God. **
(The
tax collector)
Luke
18:13
“And
the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto
heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
**The
tax collector was overwhelmed by the awareness that he was a sinner and that he
desperately needed for God’s help. He begged God for mercy, asking him to
provide a way to escape the rightful punishment for his sin. Jesus continued….
Luke18:14
“I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for
every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself
shall be exalted.”
**
It is interesting that Jesus tied repentance to humility. The bible makes it
very clear that pride is what caused Satan to fall. It is also pride which causes
man to hold back from admitting that he is a sinner, needing to trust God. The
Pharisee was convinced that, if he was diligent in observing all the law and
performing good deeds, God would be pleased. He was proud to the point that he
was blind to his own need. Jesus said…..
Mark
7:6-8
“He
answered and said unto them, well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as
it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far
from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the
tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like
things ye do.”
(Blind)
**Outwardly,
the Pharisees went through the motions of appearing righteous, but inwardly,
they were sinful. They also undercut the intent of the Ten Commandments by
adding their own man-made rules. Jesus said….
Mark
7:13
“making
the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered:
and many such like things do ye.”
**the
Pharisees believed that their religious observances, their good works, and
their Jewish birth would make them right with God. Jesus said that these things
do nothing to make a person acceptable, because evil…
Mark
7:23
“all
these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
**The
bible is clear on this point: good deeds do not earn a right standing with God.
Indeed it says…
Isaiah
64:6
“But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us
away.”
**Sometimes
people view themselves as models of perfection, but the bible states quite the
opposite. It says that all people…
John
8:34
“Jesus
answered them, verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the
servant of sin.”
**We
often get frustrated because the harder we try to do that which is right, the
more we seem to fail. Just as we get one area of life under control, we find
ourselves falling short in another way. In every way, the sin nature works against
our efforts to live right.
In
addition, the bible speaks of satan making man his slave. This doesn’t necessarily
mean that a person has been dabbling in the occult; rather, the devil
manipulates man by temptation and pride to accomplish his ends. Indeed, satan
works very hard to convince man that he is good. This scripture says that
people need to…
2
Timothy 2:26
“and
that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken
captive by him at his will.”
**
(I was born a Christian) **
The word “Christian” implies
Christ-one or belonging to the household of Christ. The biblical meaning has
been distorted and confused beyond belief. But even in the original sense of
the word, to say that one has been born a Christian is not accurate. Being born
in a Christian home no more makes you a Christian than being born in a hospital
makes you a doctor. Physical birth has nothing to do with our relationship with
God or our future destiny. Though the term is used of entire nations, rightly
understood it can only apply to an individual. Some supposedly Christian
nations have perpetrated terrible crimes in the name of Christ. Others are
morally corrupt. **
Psalm
51:5
“Behold,
I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
John
3:3
“Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
