Two Worshipers
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law. Thus he is making manifest the very spirit of Satan, the accuser
of the brethren. With this spirit it is impossible for him to enter into
communion with God. He goes down to his house destitute of the
divine blessing.
The publican had gone to the temple with other worshipers, but
he soon drew apart from them as unworthy to unite in their devotions.
Standing afar off, he “would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,
but smote upon his breast,” in bitter anguish and self-abhorrence.
He felt that he had transgressed against God, that he was sinful and
polluted. He could not expect even pity from those around him, for
they looked upon him with contempt. He knew that he had no merit
to commend him to God, and in utter self-despair he cried, “God be
merciful to me, a sinner.” He did not compare himself with others.
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Overwhelmed with a sense of guilt, he stood as if alone in God’s
presence. His only desire was for pardon and peace, his only plea was
the mercy of God. And he was blessed. “I tell you,” Christ said, “this
man went down to his house justified rather than the other.”
The Pharisee and the publican represent two great classes into
which those who come to worship God are divided. Their first two
representatives are found in the first two children that were born into
the world. Cain thought himself righteous, and he came to God with a
thank offering only. He made no confession of sin, and acknowledged
no need of mercy. But Abel came with the blood that pointed to the
Lamb of God. He came as a sinner, confessing himself lost; his only
hope was the unmerited love of God. The Lord had respect to his
offering, but to Cain and his offering He had not respect. The sense of
need, the recognition of our poverty and sin, is the very first condition
of acceptance with God. “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3
.
For each of the classes represented by the Pharisee and the pub-
lican there is a lesson in the history of the apostle Peter. In his early
discipleship Peter thought himself strong. Like the Pharisee, in his
own estimation he was “not as other men are.” When Christ on the
eve of His betrayal forewarned His disciples, “All ye shall be offended
because of Me this night,” Peter confidently declared, “Although all
shall be offended, yet will not I.”
Mark 14:27, 29
. Peter did not know
his own danger. Self-confidence misled him. He thought himself able