”And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” | Luke 18: 9-14

One of the many promises concerning God’s servant is that He would open the eyes of the blind.

In the Lord’s parable of the Pharisee and the Publican who both went into the temple to pray we have an excellent example of what this means.

The Pharisee’s eyes had not been opened and thus he prayed: “I thank thee that I am not as other men.”

A person whose eyes have not been opened is blind to his sinfulness, that his righteousness is in God’s sight like filthy rags and as Solomon said “the plague of his own heart.”

The publican’s eyes had been opened and thus he prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

The word translated “merciful” shows that his eyes had been opened to see his sinfulness, and his need of an atonement to reconcile him to God.

The one atonement that reconciles sinners to God is the bloody sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Has He opened your eyes to see your need and to sue for mercy?

Then you are part of the family of God which shall forever praise Him for the redeeming, justifying blood of the Son of God.

~ Pastor David Pledger

Click here to listen to the message “A Weighty Question”

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Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 31 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a