1089. The Publican Trusted Not in Himself

The Publican Trusted Not in Himself

"And the publican * * would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven" (Luk_18:13).

The publican could have joined Paul in saying: "We have no confidence in the flesh."

Some one may say, "But do not the good deeds of the ungodly help them in their approach to God?"

In Joppa there was a man named Cornelius, who was a devout man and one who feared God and gave alms and prayed always. To such a one Peter was sent with the command to tell him words whereby he and all his house should be saved. Peter did not denounce the good that Cornelius had done. He did find in Cornelius, an honest seeker who was living up to his light, but Peter preached unto him the same message that he preached to any other sinner–he preached salvation was through the Blood of the Cross.

There are those who are going about measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves. Such are not wise. The Apostle Paul could have boasted in himself if any man could have boasted. In fact he said, "I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." He had been circumcised on the eighth day; he was of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the Law a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the Church, touching the righteousness which is in the Law blameless. If there was any trusting in himself that he was righteous, the Apostle Paul, who was a Pharisee himself, could have by far outclassed the Pharisee of the parable.

But what did Paul do? He took his stand with the publican. He stepped down off the pedestal of his boasting, and flung his own righteousness to the winds. He counted everything but loss for Christ, put it all into the garbage can. Hear him voice the cry of his heart: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief." Is not this much the same as the cry of the publican? Paul desired to stand before Christ, robed in a righteousness not his own; but in the righteousness which is through faith in Christ."

The position of the publican is the only one through which one may get the ear of God.

"Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy Cross I cling."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR