Easter Together, Day 18 - 'Persistent, Penitent Prayer'

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 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. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 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!’ 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: 9-14

Luke continues the second paragraph of chapter 18 with the words – 'He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt'.  We might imagine this occurred, then, near the same time as the parable before – Jesus’ encouragement unto persistence in prayer – but we cannot know for sure.  If in fact it did, though, this means Jesus also taught this on His way through Samaria and Galilee, His way south toward Jerusalem.  And, if so, it is certainly well placed - both as to subject (prayer) and the intention of Christ - that prayer not be persistent only, but birthed from a penitent heart. 

For the past nearly 10 years I have attended a Bible Study on Thursday mornings at our church, called ‘THURSDAYmen.’ This morning our lesson was taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans, who in chapter 4 teaches our righteousness is not gotten by works of the flesh, or the law, but by faith in the grace and mercy of our LORD.  Of course, as Christians we know this – at least in our heads.  But, though this be so, we may yet have moments where we feel ‘puffed up,’ even before God, and think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  In contrast, Paul writes, ‘for if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:2-3 To mean, in short, there will be no boasting before God based on works of the flesh, nor keeping of the law.  What then?  Simply this – belief, which in the case of the “Tax Collector’ from Jesus’ parable above, was expressed like this - 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ And about whom Jesus goes on to say, 'I tell you, this man went down to his house justified'.

I find it illuminating that Jesus’ teaching re: these two aspects of prayer are placed close together – whether topically only by Luke, or both topically and in timing by Christ as He made His way to cross. For, either way, they speak to us of two great truths. First, that Jesus wants to hear from us and bless us as we pray; and, second, that He insists our prayer come from a penitent, not proud, heart.

How often do you pray? When you do, how do you pray? Are your prayers a reminder to God of your steadfastness, or His? We forget that a persistent prayer can also be proud - but any proud prayer, whether offered persistently or not, is still annoying to God. By contrast, the prayer that is penitent - calling upon God while thanking Him for His mercy, is the prayer our Heavenly Father desires. And this is a correct (blessed and answered) prayer, indeed!

Pastor Sam