Really? Could It Be?

Is Jesus really pleased with a broken and contrite heart?

So in Luke 18 two men are on their way to the Temple.  What are you in pursuit of when you are going to church on Sunday?  Well, these two men are on their way to the Temple to...pray (v.10)  Just chew on that for a second.  One of Jesus' most unique moments is when He lost His cools at the Temple.  He was so livid because the Temple was a place for people to connect with the Lord and "religious" people were using it for something of their own benefit.  So Jesus drove them out and even said, "this is a house of prayer (matthew 21:13)"  So here they are, two complete different men, but there for the same reason...or are they?  Again, what are you in pursuit of when you go to church?

Let's step in and look at these two men.

The first person is religious.  He gives 10% to the Temple.  He knows the first 5 books of the Old Testament, word for word...period upon period (without using any notecards).  He prays.  He fasts.  He is a very fine citizen in his community.  He might even teach a Sunday School class.  Let's look at his prayer:

"God, I thank you that I'm not like other people - greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector (better way of saying it, or even like this person standing next to me.)  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get."  

Now this guy must please the Lord like crazy.  This is what a solid christian life looks like, or is it?  Let's just answer one unique question.  Was this guy consumed with the Lord or with himself?  Remember that one time when Jesus says, "away from me, for I never knew you, (matthew 7:23)" that was to religious people.  Away from me.  You see, this pray of the Pharisee is so self-focused and the poor man is consumed with himself.  You see, he went to the Temple to feel better about himself.  It had absolutely nothing to do with his relationship with the Lord.  The Lord is simply NOT PLEASED with this kind of heart.  Why?  Because this man doesn't need Jesus...he just needs to compare himself with other sinners.  Now there were two men, so let's look at the other man.

The second person is a sinner.  He is despised by his own community.  He is an outcast.  He is probably nervous a bit because he never comes to the Temple.  He doesn't give, he steals.  He doesn't fast, he consumes.  He doesn't know one verse from any book of the Bible.  He is a tax collector = thief (total opposite of a religious person) it is why the Pharisee threw the tax collector under the bus.  But wait, he went to the Temple to pray (insert laughter at any moment if we are religious people).  Let's look at his prayer at least before we cast the stones.

"But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven (maybe he didn't even know that was a usual tradition) but kept striking his chest and saying, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."  That's it.  But can i be honest?  That is a real, honest, authentic, gut-wrenching prayer.  It is humble.  It is few words.  It is not rich in theological words.  But it pleased the heart of the Lord.  Why?  HUMILITY.  A broken and contrite heart.  The Pharisee wasn't broken and poor in Spirit.  Why should he be when he doesn't have to look at his own heart and compares himself to other sinners.  As long as he continues to show up at the Temple and people see it, he is good.  The poor tax collector shows up to church and we lose our minds.  But Jesus is pleased with this tax collector because he is poor in spirit, mourning his sins, humbled...sounds like the beatitudes that Jesus talks about in Matthew 5.  Do you know the promises of Jesus for these three beatitudes?  The kingdom of heaven is his...he will be comforted...he will inherit the earth.  Ummmm, wow!

The Lord really is pleased with a broken and contrite heart.  One more biblical truth of what the Lord is after.

Psalm 51.  David has just committed a huge sin.  Now he is in a season of repentance.  Psalm 51 is a prayer similar to the tax collectors prayer.  But the last part of the prayer gets my attention everytime.  "you do not want a sacrifice (religious stuff) or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering (religious stuff).  The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.  You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God"  Is Jesus really pleased with a broken and contrite heart?  You tell me?

I just read this quote the other day by Philip Yancey "human beings do not readily admit desperation.  When they do, the kingdom of heaven draws near."

Listen, we are sinners, no matter how we clothe it or cover it up.  God cannot be mocked (Galatians 6).  Nothing is hidden from Him (Psalm 139) Let's stop playing the Pharisee game (pride) and let's become more like the tax collector (humbled) because God already knows who we are.  Then let's let Him have us and let Him lead us.  He is a Master at leading.  And let's pray together tonight, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

The tax collector left the Temple and the Lord's heart was pleased with him.  Now, chew on that!!!