Worship is a fundamental aspect of our relationship with God. However, true worship is not merely about outward rituals, eloquent prayers, or acts of religious devotion. It is about the condition of the heart. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector) to illustrate two types of worshipers. One approached God with self-righteousness and pride, while the other came with humility and repentance. This story serves as a powerful lesson for us today: true worship is not about how we compare to others but about our sincere need for God's mercy.
In this message, we will explore the characteristics of these two worshipers, the danger of self-righteousness, the necessity of humility, and how we can cultivate a spirit of true worship before God.
1. The Two Worshipers: The Pharisee and the Publican
The Pharisee's Worship: Self-Righteousness and Pride
The Pharisee, a respected religious leader, entered the temple with confidence, not to seek God's mercy, but to boast about his own righteousness. His prayer was filled with self-praise:
He thanked God, not for His mercy, but because he was not like other sinners.
He compared himself to others, using them as a standard instead of measuring himself against God's holiness.
He listed his religious deeds, saying, "I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:12), as if these works made him worthy before God.
His worship was not about God but about himself. He stood apart from others, displaying an attitude of spiritual superiority. His self-righteousness made him blind to his own need for God's grace.
The Publican's Worship: Humility and Repentance
In contrast, the publican (tax collector) stood at a distance, feeling unworthy even to lift his eyes to heaven. His heart was broken by the weight of his sin. His prayer was simple but sincere:
He acknowledged his unworthiness before God.
He did not compare himself to others, focusing only on his personal need for mercy.
He pleaded for God's forgiveness, saying, "God be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13).
Jesus declared that this man, not the Pharisee, went home justified before God (Luke 18:14). His humility opened the way for divine forgiveness and acceptance.
2. The Danger of Self-Righteousness
Self-righteousness is one of the greatest barriers between us and God. Like the Pharisee, many people today trust in their religious acts, good deeds, or moral superiority to gain favor with God. However, the Bible teaches that:
Our righteousness is like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6).
No one is righteous on their own (Romans 3:10).
We are saved by grace, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Pharisee's pride prevented him from recognizing his need for God's mercy. This is the same sin that led to Satan's fall (Isaiah 14:12-15) and continues to ruin countless souls today. Pride makes us spiritually blind and cuts us off from true communion with God.
3. The Blessing of Humility and a Contrite Heart
The publican, on the other hand, represents the kind of worshiper God accepts. The Bible repeatedly affirms that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). True worship comes from a heart that:
Recognizes its need for God's mercy (Psalm 51:17).
Approaches God with honesty and repentance (1 John 1:9).
Submits to God in humility (Micah 6:8).
Peter's experience is another example. At first, he was confident in his own strength, boasting that he would never deny Jesus (Mark 14:29). However, he later denied Christ three times. His failure led to deep repentance, and through humility, he was restored. Like Peter, we must learn that our strength is in Christ alone, not in ourselves.
4. The Essence of True Worship
From this parable, we learn that true worship is not about outward appearances but about the heart's attitude before God. Jesus taught in John 4:24 that true worshipers worship in spirit and in truth. This means:
Worship is not about impressing others but about seeking God (Matthew 6:1).
Worship is not about what we do but about who we are before God (Psalm 51:10).
Worship is a response to God's grace, not a means to earn it (Romans 12:1).
When we approach God with a humble and sincere heart, He draws near to us (James 4:8).
The parable of the Pharisee and the publican teaches us that true worship is rooted in humility, repentance, and complete dependence on God's grace. The Pharisee thought his religious deeds made him righteous, but the publican understood that only God's mercy could save him.
This message calls us to examine our own hearts:
Are we trusting in our own righteousness, or are we relying fully on Christ's grace?
Are we coming to God with pride, or are we humbling ourselves before Him?
Are we worshiping to glorify ourselves, or are we truly seeking God's presence?
Jesus said, "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14). May we learn to worship God in humility and truth, recognizing our need for His grace every day.
Let us, like the publican, come before God with a sincere heart, saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Then, we too will leave His presence justified, transformed, and blessed.