Luke 18:9-14 English Standard Version

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed^{[prayed to himself]} thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ 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!’ ¹⁴ 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.”

We might see a few things clearly here that identify the nature of a sinner’s prayer.

First is the pious individual who prays to himself. His pride is quick to point to the sins of others and declare that he is better than others. He boasts of good things as if his salvation can be bought.

The tax collector in this example does not name his sins but confesses his condition when he begs for mercy. This man understands that forgiveness of sin is the purview of God and God alone. He does not compare himself with others nor does he try to justify himself.

The last thing seen here is while begging for mercy our Lord justifies the man. So often we seek forgiveness and the Lord gives us what we need even if we do not understand it. Justification comes first. Salvation and sanctification are renewed day after day, as needed. Justification is performed only once in our first moments of surrender.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 English Standard Version

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,^{[according to the flesh]} not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being^{[no flesh]} might boast in the presence of God.

Those of us in Christ understand these verses very well. When we have been in the Way for a number of years the chains of slavery to sin are a distant memory. We must remember this in order to relate the gospel to those who are hearing it for the first time. They might not see them as chains but might relate to the flesh that dominates their thoughts and actions.

There is no struggle between the spirit and the flesh for the lost, no spirit has been given to win that fight. All we can do is point to the sickness. Are they sick of sin or are they reveling in it? This is where the issues of weakness begs for some relief, some control, to relieve the soul from the loss of control.

The strong flesh will revel in triumph. They dominate others and abuse their power to subject others to their own selfish will. This is why God has sent this message about shaming the strong. They will never taste the glory of Christ because their appetites are of the flesh.

We should remember that moment in our own personal confession of condition that led us to Christ.

Mine was simple. “I don’t want to be like this.”

Some might believe confession has to be specific in detail in order to be real. All that is required is to be honest about our heart condition and ask for help. There are no magic words.