Plot Twist

Apr 22, 2022

I want to start by reading a story from Luke 18.

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 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."

- Luke 18:9

First and foremost, we have to understand, just like the original readers understood, that Pharisees had a positive image in that culture. They were the blessing ones, the ones you want to be your church leaders and would like to invite as your speaker for conferences. People really looked up to them. They were spiritual people. Solid people.

And then there were the tax collectors, who had a negative image. They were the greedy ones. They were the ones that would be on the news who were caught making false insurance claims, financially taking advantage of senior citizens and the disabled, and cheating on their taxes. So that is why they were outcasted.

But in verse 10, both men went up into the temple to pray. They both went to encounter God. So the assumption was God would give favor to the Pharisee and not the tax collector. It is a story with a very predictable ending, at least in the minds of the original readers.

So you are supposed to actually think, ok… what's the big deal here? However, like all good stories and movies, there is a plot twist! What happens?

Spoiler alert! The tax collector is exalted! Why? Because he cried out for God's mercy.

The lesson here is this: The Pharisee, although he was a good person and was living for the Lord, had no conviction of his sins. He did not bother to examine his blind spots and his pride. However, the tax collector was immediately convicted of his sinful nature because he knew he was messed up.

With the conviction of sin, he confesses his need: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner! Yes, I am messed up, so unrespectable, unloveable, hypocritical, BUT that is why I NEED YOUR MERCY!"

Then in verse 14, it says he received God's justification. Meaning, he was forgiven and approved by God. And, therefore, there was a transformation! Again, in verse 14, it says he went down to his house justified. He was no longer the same person going back to his house. He had been transformed!

In short, holy transformation demands holy frustration.

Friends, I believe we, as a church, had a blessing and powerful Easter weekend. But for transformation to happen, we need holy frustration. We need the conviction of sin daily, confession of his need, and the justification of God, which leads to the transformation of our lives.