Luke 18:11-14English Standard Version

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] 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.”

Footnote a. Or standing, prayed to himself

The footnote is included only as an afterthought of what might have been in the actions of the Pharisee. His attitude might not have placed him before God in prayer. We will never know for sure and we should be mindful of our own attitude when we come before the Lord.

If we take the Pharisee’s words at face value, that he is speaking the truth, what is the only thing the man is guilty of doing? Jesus tells us that the Pharisee is trying to justify himself by calling out the sins of others. That is not how it works.

The tax collector on the other hand by action and words owns it.  He cried out to the only source of help for his soul, his merciful God. Humble to the point of not being able to look God in the face he admits he is a sinner. Note closely that he does not call out every sin committed in his confession of condition. Nothing he has done has been acceptable to God. 

So many times we pretend that God doesn’t know us in our sinful state. If we start listing all we feel remorseful for doing, the chances are we might miss a few. If we are sinners, the number of offenses or the degree of conviction does not change our need for mercy.

In my past a certain church would offer the podium to any man who wanted to come up and confess his sin. It was amazing what these men were confessing. James 5:16 says to confess our sins to one another. At the time of this exercise I had no sins to confess. All my sins had been forgiven and I had nothing current in my life to own.

My past was full of shame but after my conversion, the list of current sins became smaller and smaller. There was no value in confessing sins of the old dead man I was before Christ. There was nothing troubling my conscience.

That is not to say things don’t come up, but I own them as soon as possible before those who have been victims of my wrongs. Confessing to them is more important than coming before the church members who know nothing about what I have done.

We need to own who we are, not who we were before Christ.

I am a sinner saved by grace. Numbering them and naming them will not change that.