162 He prayed w ith himself. He used God’s name. He had th e formula of prayer. He thanked God, not for bless ings and mercies, nor for gifts and graces, bu t th a t he was not as others. Then he in stru cted God as to what he was not,^S-not an extortioner, unjust, adu lterer, or “ even like th is poor pub lican.” Can you not see him pointing his finger a t th e publican.? Then he tells God what he does,— “ fast twice in th e week; give tith es of all I possess.” He was praying for the publican's ears, and perhaps, citing the sins of th e publican. He was proud of his own attainm ents. He went beyond legal re quirem ents. The law of Moses required only one fast day a year and tithes of corn, cattle, oil and wine. The P harisee measured him self w ith others. He asked for nothing and got it. He confessed o ther men’s sins, ex alted him self and not God. His prayer contained no adoration; no recognition of God’s holiness, righteousness or w orth; no confession of sin and need; no supplication. He had w rong though ts of God. He though t God would be pleased w ith his presence in the sanctuary and would be impressed w ith his virtues. He ex pected God would say, “W hat a won derful, righteous, sanctified saint this is.” He had a w rong opinion of himself. He though t he was better th an other men. “Not an extortioner”—-forgot his covetousness. “Not an a d u lterer”— for got his evil thoughts. “Not a publican” — believed his position entitled him to a place in heaven. He had w rong thoughts abou t the publican. He considered him beneath th e notice of a man like him self and un worthy of any recognition from God. H is m istake was in telling God what h e was n o t and what th e publican was when he should have confessed what h e him self was.
T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S (b ) The Publican’s P ray er. It was short, manly, honest. He measures himself w ith God. He finds his place and takes it. He recognizes God’s holiness and righteouspess and his own unworthiness. He longs f o r . acceptance w ith God. He confesses his guilt. He is occupied alone w ith God and his relation to Him, “Me, the sin ner.” He prays for propitiation, “God, be mercy-seated.” Remember th a t these two men -are in th e temple. The pub lican’s eyes are upon th e Holy of holies, where th e blood is sprinkled:—the m er cy-seat. There is no other place for a sinful man to meet God. God’s eye is upon th e blood of th e mercy-seat; (Lev. 1 7 :11 ). “ Fo r the l i f e o f t h e fl es h i s in t a n d I have g iv e n i t t o you u p o n t o mak e an aton em en t for y ou r i t i s t h e h lo o d t h a t maketh an a for t h e soul.” • T h at is th e meeting place for God and man. The publican is a Jew who knows God’s method of forgiyeness of sin. (Isa. 53:5, 6 ). He was declared rig h t eous for righteousness was imputed to him th rough th e blood of atonement. (Rom. 3:20-22; 5 :9 ). He was found in Christ. (Phil. 3 :9 ). The Pharisee went down from the temple as he came up— condemned in God’s sight. He was a Cainite. (Gen. 4 :5 -15 ). His righteousness was as filthy rags in th e sight of God. (Isa. 64 :6 ): The publican was an Abelite w ith an approved and acceptable sacrifice (Gen. 4 :4 ). W ithout th e shedding of blood th ere is no rem ission of sin. (Heb. 9 :2 2 ). No righteousness can be im puted un til sin is removed. The Lamb of God bears away the sin of the world. (John 1 :2 9 ). The difference between men in the sight of God isn ’t in th eir personalities, but in th e ir offerings. (Heb. 1 1 :4 ). “ By f a it h A b el o f f e r e d u n to G o e xc e ll e n t s a cr ifi ce t han C a in , by ob ta in ed w it n e s s t h a t he w as r G o d t e s t i f y i n g o f h is g i f t s ; a n d being d e a d y e t speaheth.”
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