Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 8Sample

In these verse, we see Jesus decrypt another Kingdom principle. This principle has been mentioned to us before in Matthew 20:16 (the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first), and today we’re going to look at that same principle in Luke chapter 18.

13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Jesus starts by using one of the most hated people of His time, a tax collector. To give context, a tax collector was seen as the lowest of the lows, someone who basically committed treason (sold out) his people for money (kind of like Judas). As we go through the verse, we see the shame that the tax collector felt in the presence of God and how he humbles himself before God. The verse says "he would not even raise his eyes to heaven."

Jesus goes on to say that this man went home justified. God saw his heart and heard his cries and his humble posture. And Jesus shows us that His Kingdom accepts anyone who is willing to humble themselves and recognise their need for a Saviour.