THE PUBLICAN’S SALVATION

“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13 NKJV).

In context, two men went to the Temple to pray - one was a Pharisee and the other a publican (a despised tax collector). The Pharisee’s prayer was a proud prayer, while the publican’s prayer was a humble prayer. According to the Lord Jesus, the publican went home “justified” and so his prayer is most instructive. From his prayer we want to note the separation of sin, shame of sin, sentence upon sin, and salvation from sin.

Separation of sin – “Standing afar off.” This position is in reference to the Holy Place in the Temple. Sin separates and drives us away from God. When Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God. Here, the publican stood afar from the Holy Place, but still remained in the Temple court because he sensed his sinfulness before God.

Shame of sin – “Would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven.” Usually, men lift their eyes upward when praying. But the publican, conscious of his sin, felt the awful shame of sin and would not look up. Ezra spoke of this when he cried, “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen… and our guilt has grown” (Ezra 9:6). Sin brings shame, not honor.

Sentence upon sin – “Beat his breast.” In Scripture, to beat on the breast was a sign of sadness, penitence, remorse, sorrow and mourning. It speaks of the awareness of guilt that a sinner feels for his sin against God. It reflects an attitude necessary for repentance.

Salvation from sin – “Be merciful to me a sinner.” The Greek word translated “Be merciful” means to atone, to make reconciliation. Here is the approach for salvation. There is no salvation if we do not acknowledge the fact that we are sinners. Salvation is not by merit, but by mercy. And this involves blood and sacrifice and speaks of Calvary. Salvation comes through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty!”

Steven J Lawson (1951 - )

American Pastor, Theologian and Author

Word Study

Fail

In Luke 16:9 we read, “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home" (NKJV).

“Fail” is the Greek word ekleípō (ἐκλείπω = ek-li'-po). It is made up of two words: “ek” which means out, and “leípō” which means to fail, to leave out or leave off. Thus, the word means to leave out, leave off, and by implication to cease. In classical Greek ekleipō meant to abandon a responsibility or a thing, to desert an army or abandon a city. In the Septuagint ekleípō mean to forsake or to desert. In the New Testament ekleipō means to cease or to fail. In context, the Lord Jesus is exhorting His disciples to exercise good stewardship when it comes to wealth (unrighteous mammon) because one day it will end, and only those who have used it wisely will be welcomed into an “everlasting home” (i.e., heaven).

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 KJV).

Did You Know…

The daughters of Manasseh (Joseph’s firstborn son) were different about from the other females living in the Promised Land as they were given land like their brothers (Josh. 17:6).

Bible Quiz

According to 1 Timothy, how old did a widow have to be before she was put on the list of widows?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What happened when Belshazzar and his guests drank wine from the gold and silver cups taken from the temple of the Jews? A hand appeared and wrote on the wall (Dan. 5:5).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“SON OF THE HIGHEST / MOST HIGH”

"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:32 NJKV).

1. Meaning – SON OF THE HIGHEST / MOST HIGH points to the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His equality with Yahweh.

2. Insights – “Highest / Most High” (hupsistos) is the Greek equivalent of the frequently used Old Testament title for God, El Elyon (cf. Gen. 14:18-20; Deut. 32:8; Psalm. 7:17; Dan. 4:17). It is a title that refers to His position as the supreme sovereign ruler. In Semitic thought a son was a carbon copy of his father, and the phrase “son of” was often used to refer to one who possessed his father’s qualities. So, to identify the Lord Jesus as the “Son of the Highest / Most High” is to affirm that He is of the same essence as God.

Did You Know – Christian History

Benjamin Schmolck was born December 21, 1672, in Brauchitzchdorf, Germany. He was a German Lutheran pastor and hymn writer.

One day, while Benjamin was still a schoolboy, he came home from school and preached a sermon for his father. His father was so pleased with it, that he vowed to find the money to equip his son with a theological education. At the University of Leipzig, Schmolck came under the influence of godly instructors who passed on their own deep faith to him. While at university, he began to write poems for rich clients, a practice which provided him with extra income.

After graduation in 1694, Schmolck returned home, was ordained, and took his father’s place as pastor. Eight years later, he went to Catholic Silesia, an Austrian-German region. The Catholic majority restricted the number of churches Lutherans could own. The church where Schmolck pastored served 36 villages but was not allowed to erect a steeple or tower. There Schmolck worked for 35 years until his death.

Schmolck was well known in his own district as a popular and useful preacher, a diligent pastor, and a man of wonderful tact and discretion. However, it was his devotional books, and the original hymns that brought him wider popularity, and carried his name and fame all over Germany. Besides Cantatas, occasional pieces for weddings, funerals, he is the author of some 900 hymns. These were written for all sorts of occasions, and range over the whole field of churchly, family, and individual life. Bach used a text by Schmolck in his cantata #35. A deep and genuine personal religion, and a fervent love to the Savior, inspire his best hymns.

At the age of 58, Schmolck was seated at home one Sunday in spring when a stroke paralyzed him. Schmolck recovered enough to carry on his work, which he did for another five years. However, he experienced a second stroke and the last seven years of his life was spent patiently in bed, blind and unable to speak. Still, he mustered the strength to place his hands on the heads of those who came for his blessing. Blessings and silent prayer were all he could do. Schmolck died in February 1737. He was much loved by his people because of his warm personality and genuine concern for spiritual things.

A Little Humor

The pastor came to visit an elderly parishioner the other day. He told her that at her advanced age, she should be thinking of the hereafter. “Oh, I do it all the time,” she said. “No matter where I am – in the living room, upstairs, in the kitchen, or down in the basement, I am always asking myself - now, what am I here after?”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Religion is man trying to do something for God; salvation is God doing something for man!”