LUKE 18:1-14 JUSTICE - SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS On His way to Jerusalem with "his face set," the last things of the Lord's public ministry took place in Luke's account of the Son of Man. One subject of teaching He reviewed is what prayer is like and why it is important both to God and man. True prayer is the urge of a person to reach out to God. The desire to go forward is a characteristic of prayer. It implies there is an inner need that presses one's spirit to reach forward and upward beyond our present position and state of mind. One brother in Christ said, "Prayer puts people, places, possessions, privileges, problems, plans and purposes in proper perspective" (Arnold Adams).
The first parable the Lord told had to do with justice being done. Men need to remember we cannot discern all the ramifications surrounding issues and incidents in life, but our omniscient God does. There is an attitude of mind and life in a believer that is in us whether we put it into words or not. It is that there be the victory of spiritual things over the physical; the eternal over the temporal; the unseen over the things that are seen. If that isn't true in one's life, we will "faint" in despair, frustrations and pessimism. One would think all is hopeless unless we believe in the willingness of a benevolent, righteous God to do for us what we cannot do.
The judge in the parable is pictured as one who does not fear God and has no compassion toward people. He was not above being bribed. It seems like he had no respect for authority, people or God, but he didn't want anything to interfere with his life and the comforts he enjoyed. All the woman wanted was justice. All the unjust judge wanted was his own comfort, but that was being disturbed by the woman's persistence. So, he finally administers justice to the woman for his own sake, not just hers. He did not act in a righteous way. The Lord uses this in contrast as to how God responds to the prayers of His own. How different is God's speedy action compared to this unjust man!
God acts under the authority of His own righteousness which He in no way ever violates. The unjust judge took his time and gave an answer at his own convenience. God, by contrast, as speedily on our behalf. He does not keep people dangling in doubt or worrying if He heard our prayer. His answers may not be what we had hoped for, but He does answer quickly with "Yes," "No" or "Not now." He is ready to hear and answer every sincere request the oppressed person makes. God answers with compassion on those who need mercy. God acts in love towards those who call upon Him. He is always near. When He returns to reign in righteousness, will He find the faith, the body of truth, that should control and motivate righteousness in men? There will be those few and faithful ones who continue to wait and pray in spite of widespread departure from the faith.
The second parable has to do with those who in self-righteousness trust in themselves instead of God. Not only do they trust in themselves, but they despise and treat with contempt, those who are not like them. The teaching of the first parable is that we can trust God to do what is needed. In this second parable - we cannot trust in our self-righteousness to justify us before God. The Pharisee prayed in a normal fashion using eloquent phrases that pleased his sense of propriety. His self-occupation was so erroneous that he couldn't get away from himself after the first utterance and acknowledgement of God. Far too often our prayer life centers around ourselves, our needs, our wishes and our expectations. We do not impress God nor men with flowery words full of self-taught information.
When a person senses their own unworthiness like the publican in the parable, we are not putting our best foot forward. A person who has the right estimation of himself is looking to God alone for mercy. We understand our only claim to even be heard by God is that "Christ died for the ungodly," and that He "once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." The humbled, needy soul who casts himself on the mercy of God is heard and his prayer is answered. When one exalts himself, he "shall be abased."
If we try to justify ourselves in any way, we are taking ourselves out of God's hands and are on our own before men and God. Before men, such a person will be despised inwardly if not outwardly. Before God, such a person will not be justified and cannot be declared righteous. When the attitude of true humility is in a person, it is not hard to see. It can be heard in the tone of voice when one prays. It can be seen in one's face when he speaks to the Lord Jesus. It shows itself in reality in the bent of one's life and in their attitude toward other people. God hears prayer and answers in justice and mercy when there is sincerity and honesty evident.
Sometimes I am caused to wonder if my prayer is even heard - And yet I know God hears and answers prayer. The problem causing doubts may be that I haven't really learned - Whenever I find myself, my God is there. In the activities of daily living, God is there to give the strength Needed to produce and do His will. Even when the problems seem to go on and on at length - He is there to give needed grace and wisdom still.
I do not pray to try and manipulate God into acting in my way. His purposes and plans are already there for me. But sometimes distractions come and I neglect to hear what He does say - And for some strange reason, act foolishly. When that happens, I need to pray in confession and His promise claim - So that any hindrances to His answers are removed. Forgiveness for sin is assured by the power of Jesus' name - And forsaking what is wrong one's sincerity proves.
God answers, for He is just and quickly moves to take In hand the requests that I have asked. He knows the need in its fullness of the request that I make - His grace makes possible the completed task. I am not left alone trying to do the impossible- His sufficiency is there for me to use. To some looking on they can't conceive it is plausible That such a weak vessel, God would use.
By its very nature, prayer increase faith in things unseen, And our trust in God is made much stronger. We don't look back to see the danger of what might have been. Instead we see blessings much greater and much longer. Some things we once wanted now are ours to have forever - Joy and peace for today are two of these. God in matchless grace tells us He will fail us never - These things Christ gave us each to seize.
With quiet and calm assurance, we maintain an attitude of prayer, That in fellowship with our God we do remain. In few words or in many, we know His promise is to be there, And by prayer that connection is maintained. I ask and He gives answers, He speaks and I reply - When to His revealed word I give my earnest heed. The answer I seek may come now or by and by -
I trust Him who knows when and what I need.
"Father, these thoughts about our communication do not really convey what I would like to express. But I know You have a better knowledge of my heart's desire and my appreciation for Thee than I do. So thanks so much for making it possible for me to live with Thee moment by moment, even when we are not talking all the time. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."