Luke 18:14

Luke 18:14 KJV concludes Jesus' Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (also known as the Publican), delivering a powerful message about humility and true righteousness before God. This verse succinctly summarizes the moral of the story, contrasting two approaches to prayer and life.

Context

This verse is the climax of a parable Jesus told to "certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others" (Luke 18:9). In the parable, a self-righteous Pharisee boasts of his piety and good works, while a humble tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, stands afar off, striking his breast and praying, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13). Jesus' concluding statement in verse 14 overturns conventional religious expectations, revealing God's perspective on true worship and spiritual standing.

Key Themes

• Humility vs. Pride: The central contrast highlights that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. The Pharisee's self-exaltation led to his spiritual abasement, while the tax collector's humble confession resulted in divine favor. This theme is echoed throughout scripture, emphasizing the importance of a contrite heart before God.
• True Justification: The tax collector, despite his profession being despised, "went down to his house justified." This refers to being declared righteous or acquitted by God, not because of his good deeds but because of his humble and repentant spirit. It underscores that justification comes from God's grace in response to genuine humility and faith, not from human merit or adherence to religious rituals.
• God's Principle of Reversal: The second part of the verse, "for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted," functions as a timeless principle of God's kingdom. It signifies that God actively brings down the arrogant and lifts up the lowly, a concept seen repeatedly in biblical narratives and teachings, such as in James 4:10 or 1 Peter 5:6.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "justified" is dikaioo (δικαιόω), which means to declare righteous, to pronounce just, or to acquit. It's a legal and theological term signifying a right standing before God. The tax collector wasn't made inherently sinless at that moment, but he was declared righteous in God's eyes, forgiven and accepted. The terms "abased" (tapeinoo - ταπεινόω) and "exalted" (hypsoo - ὑψόω) perfectly capture the spiritual reversal that occurs based on one's posture of heart towards God.

Practical Application

Luke 18:14 serves as a crucial reminder for all believers to examine their own hearts and motives. It teaches that true spiritual standing is not based on outward religious performance, self-perceived righteousness, or comparison with others, but on an honest and humble recognition of one's need for God's mercy. This verse encourages a posture of dependence on God's grace and a rejection of spiritual pride. It calls us to approach God with genuine humility, recognizing our sinfulness and His boundless compassion, knowing that a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.