Summary
A tax collector beat his chest and prayed, “Have Mercy on me.” In the same temple a Pharisee prayed, “Thank you that I am not like other men.” But he was just like other men: a taker, unrighteous and unfaithful. Jesus said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” A proud man cannot humble himself with himself—that’s just more self—and all men are proud… except One. The tax collector and Pharisee pray in the temple as the smell of roast lamb wafts through the air. The tax collector doesn’t humble himself. He is being humbled by the One that does. Everyone will be humbled by the Judgment of God and everyone that is humbled will be exalted by that very same judgment. You are not better than “them.” You are not worse than “them.” You are “them.” You are the body of Christ to be animated by Love, Who constantly humbles Himself and is exalted.