Honest to God
Honest to God
Luke 18:9-14
Our gospel lesson this morning immediately follows our parable last week about the persistent widow and the unjust judge — where we are reminded that if we pray for justice without working for justice, or prayers are hollow, and if we pray and work for justice without faith, we will become disheartened and discouraged.
Jesus encourages us to put our prayers into action. And I can imagine Jesus’ listeners feeling encouraged and emboldened by his teaching.
Everyone aspires to be like the persistent widow, and of course, no one aspires to be the unjust judge.
This morning Jesus shares another parable addressed to, some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous — like the widow and regarded others with contempt – like the judge.
Listen to the words of Jesus as recorded in the gospel of Luke 18:9-14. The Greek is translated into English this way – listen to for God’s word for you this morning.
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Who do you identify with in the story?
Maybe you feel like Matthew—the one who wants to pray courageously and live a faithful life, even if you’re not sure how.
Maybe you feel like Joseph—skeptical of other people’s piety and a little critical of those who seem too self-assured.
Or maybe this morning, you feel like the tax collector—carrying regret or guilt, or pain —simply whispering, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Jesus tells this story to those who trust in themselves and regarded others with contempt.
It’s easy to assume that’s not us. But what if the “tax collector” in Jesus’ story were someone you struggle to understand—or even dislike?
What if it were a politician whose policies you can’t stomach?
What if it were an ICE agent praying for mercy before going to work?
What if it were a neighbor who’s hurt you deeply?
Would you still rejoice that their prayer made them right with God?
It’s uncomfortable to imagine. But that’s what Jesus does—he invites us to see ourselves in both characters, not just the one we prefer.
Because as soon as we start saying, “Thank God I’m not like that Pharisee,” we’ve become the Pharisee.
The Heart of the Parable
This parable isn’t only about pride and humility. It’s about honesty before God.
Humility, in Jesus’ teaching, isn’t about thinking less of yourself—it’s about bringing your whole self before God, even the parts you’d rather keep hidden: your failures, your fears, your resentments, your shame.
That’s why we begin worship with a prayer of confession. Not to wallow in guilt, but to make room for grace—to say, “Here I am, God. All of me. Have mercy.”
Because it’s only when we come honestly, like the tax collector, that God’s Spirit can begin the work of transformation.
And notice this—Jesus says the tax collector went home justified.
He doesn’t say “perfected.” He doesn’t say “fixed.” He says “justified”—made right before God.
That’s what grace does. It doesn’t erase our past; it reorients our present.
Reformation Sunday Connection
That’s the heart of the Reformation we celebrate today.
Our ancestors in faith insisted that we don’t need to earn God’s favor through performance, piety, or position.
Grace isn’t granted through hierarchy or holiness; it’s given freely by the One who lifts the lowly and loves without condition.
The bad news of Reformation Sunday is that we’re all sinners.
The good news of Reformation Sunday is that God’s grace washes over us all—Pharisee and tax collector alike.
Grace doesn’t divide the righteous from the unrighteous; it gathers us all together—each one humbled, forgiven, and made whole.
And when we experience that kind of mercy, it changes how we see one another.
We stop measuring ourselves against others and start recognizing that we all stand on level ground before God’s grace.
Conclusion
So when you come to pray – whether you stand tall like the Pharisee or kneel low like the tax collector — remember this:
God already knows you.
God already loves you.
And God’s mercy is big enough to meet you exactly where you are.
Because in the end, this parable isn’t about two people in a temple; it’s about every heart that dares to speak honestly to God.
And when we do—when we stop pretending, stop comparing, and come just as we are—
we go home justified.
Not because we’ve gotten it all right, but because God’s grace has claimed us all.
Amen.
Let us pray –
Merciful God,
You see us as we are – Pharisee and tax collector, saint and sinner –
And still you welcome us into your presence.
You hear the prayers we speak aloud
And the ones we can barely whisper.
Teach us to come before you with open hearts,
Honest about our failures,
Hopeful for your forgiveness,
And humbled by your grace.
Strip away our pride, soften our judgments,
And fill us again with your mercy,
So that when we leave the place,
We may go home justified –
Not because of what we have done,
But because of what you have done in us.
We ask this is the name of the One
Who lifts the lowly and loves us till,
Christ our Redeemer.
Amen.
