Lu 18:13 "But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "`O God be merciful to me, the sinner!'
This is a picture of a man who has been convicted of his sin. His location, position, action, supplication and confession demonstrate it all.
* His Location: "Standing far back" He knew where he belonged. He knew that as a sinner he is separated away from God. And so he kept his distance from the sanctuary.
* His Position: His position or posture was that he "would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven." He knew he was guilty and could not look straight to heaven.
* His Action: He "kept beating his breast." He was in deep sorrow and agony. He knew where his real problem was---his heart!
* His Supplication: "O God be merciful to me." He appealed that the sacrifice of atonement be applied to him. The word "merciful" means to be propitious. And propitiation can only come when the animal sacrifice is offered in behalf of the sinner.
This was of course a picture of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus would make in Calvary. All animal sacrifices in the Old Testament point toward the coming Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.
* His Confession: "the sinner." In the original Greek the definite article is used: "THE sinner". He did not view himself as a sinner among many sinners. No, in his own eyes he is THE sinner.
In many people's eyes, he may have been an outcast from participating in the religious activities of the temple. They might have told him: "You have no part in this sacrifice! You are disqualified! You sinner!"
But God had a sacrifice for him. Sometime after this, Christ came and died for him. And God heard his prayer: "O God, make an atoning sacrifice for me!" And "this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself shall be humbled; but he who humbles himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:14)
* His Location: "Standing far back" He knew where he belonged. He knew that as a sinner he is separated away from God. And so he kept his distance from the sanctuary.
* His Position: His position or posture was that he "would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven." He knew he was guilty and could not look straight to heaven.
* His Action: He "kept beating his breast." He was in deep sorrow and agony. He knew where his real problem was---his heart!
* His Supplication: "O God be merciful to me." He appealed that the sacrifice of atonement be applied to him. The word "merciful" means to be propitious. And propitiation can only come when the animal sacrifice is offered in behalf of the sinner.
This was of course a picture of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus would make in Calvary. All animal sacrifices in the Old Testament point toward the coming Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.
* His Confession: "the sinner." In the original Greek the definite article is used: "THE sinner". He did not view himself as a sinner among many sinners. No, in his own eyes he is THE sinner.
In many people's eyes, he may have been an outcast from participating in the religious activities of the temple. They might have told him: "You have no part in this sacrifice! You are disqualified! You sinner!"
But God had a sacrifice for him. Sometime after this, Christ came and died for him. And God heard his prayer: "O God, make an atoning sacrifice for me!" And "this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself shall be humbled; but he who humbles himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:14)
