Two Praying Men - but God heard only one prayer

Two men went to the temple pray. But only one was justified.

Luke 18:9-14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

1. We can be Justified – BUT, NOT by works.

There are two people in this Parable. Firstly, there’s the Pharisee - he is full of himself, full of the things that he has done for God. I thank thee, he says, that I am not an extortioner, I am not an adulterer, I am not a sinner. I thank thee, Oh God, that I fast, I tithe. Here is someone who is relying on his own strength, on his own merit, on his own goodness, to be right with God.

The blood of our Lord was poured out for us. His body was crushed and was crucified. We are not in any way perfect. We cannot present ourselves with all our merit before God. No - we remember our sin, our filthiness, our transgressions, before the holy God. We can never be justified by works.

2. We CAN be justified through God's mercy

Notice - the second man: the publican. He looked upon himself, and his unworthiness before God. Yet his faith is visible.

He stands at a distance. He is standing afar off. He cannot even enter the temple. He is praying, but he knows that this is the holy place of God, and he is distancing himself. He says, Lord I am a sinner. I cannot enter into the threshold of the Holy, because You O Lord are a holy God, and I am filthy before you.

He cannot even draw near to the holy of holies, because he knows his heart, that he had sinned before God. Notice also his posture - he would not lift up his eyes unto Heaven. He will not look upon God. He cannot even look upon God. He is truly ashamed of himself. Also, look at his agony. He is smiting his breast in agony. He is broken over his sin. He smote upon his breast, Lord, I am a sinful man. We see his agony, his repentance, his sorrow over sin.

Notice, also, his prayer: God be merciful to me a sinner. He is asking for mercy; he is asking for that which he does not deserve at all. He is beseeching the God of Grace; the God of Mercy. He is appealing before the gracious Throne of God. As David cried out, in Psalm 51, when he had sinned.

Psalms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Psalms 103:12-13 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Psalms 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children.

As the words of our hymn goes: Mercy there was great and Grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied for me. There my burdened soul found Liberty. At Calvary.

Here is true Liberty. True justification.

Verse 14, I tell you this man went down to his house Justified. Clear of his sin. He has received pardon from our Lord. He is free from burden and guilt.

What can wash away our sin? Nothing but the blood of Our Lord!

Let us remember the goodness of God; His mercy to us; His pardon.

As we commemorate communion, we remember our sinfulness, and we are reminded of the great goodness and grace and mercy of our Lord, who is full of mercy.

He has Justified us through his blood.