THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

175which happened to be market days when the city of Jerusalem was full of people who had comein from the country. This was attractive to the religious leaders because there was a largeaudience for those who wanted to put on a show of piety by whitening their faces and wearingdisheveled clothes. Furthermore, they scrupulously tithed one tenth on everything they acquired,even down to the herbs in their kitchen garden (11:23; see also Lev 27:30-32 Nu 18:21-24 Dt14:22-27).The following Scriptures apply to this self-righteous Pharisee:“those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth” (Pr 30:12).“those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful” (Pr 30:13).“You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows yourhearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight” (Lk 16:15).“Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought toestablish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness” (Ro 10:3).A HUMBLE PRAYER (18:13)"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up toheaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner'” (v. 13).The tax collector's posture was one of humility:He “stood at a distance” because He did not feel worthy to be close to God or thetempleHe did “not even look up to heaven” because he was deeply aware of his ownguiltHe “beat his breast” as a sign of deep sorrow and mourning for his sinThe tax collector describes himself as a sinner and makes no excuses for his sin. Instead,he takes full responsibility for it.