THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Study Notes for the Christian Layperson Study Notes for the Christian Layperson by: Rev. Marcus Baikie by: Rev. Marcus Baikie

Luke 18:9-14 esv Luke 18:9-14 esv Author and Date: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, Author and Date: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, The Holy Spirit caused Luke the physician to one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Holy Spirit caused Luke the physician to one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. write the words of this Gospel around AD 55-60. • Consider that among the original audience, write the words of this Gospel around AD 55-60. • Consider that among the original audience, In this parable, Jesus teaches about prayer and, the Pharisee would immediately be seen as In this parable, Jesus teaches about prayer and, the Pharisee would immediately be seen as as one author put it, “entry into the kingdom of the hero, and the tax collector would be seen as one author put it, “entry into the kingdom of the hero, and the tax collector would be seen God from a position of inferiority” (J. Noland, as the villain. God from a position of inferiority” (J. Noland, as the villain. Luke 9:21—18:34, 874), as draws ever near 11 Luke 9:21—18:34, 874), as draws ever near 11 to Jerusalem and the Cross, where He will lay “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed to Jerusalem and the Cross, where He will lay “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed down His life as an atoning for sin. these things: ‘O God, I thank you that I am down His life as an atoning sacrifice for sin. these things: ‘O God, I thank you that I am not as the rest of mankind, robbers, unjust, not as the rest of mankind, robbers, unjust, 9 9 But [Jesus] also said this parable to some who adulterers, or even as this tax collector. But [Jesus] also said this parable to some who adulterers, or even as this tax collector. trusted in themselves that they were righteous trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised the rest: • “Standing by himself” — the Pharisee, like and despised the rest: • “Standing by himself” — the Pharisee, like those at the beginning of this account, those at the beginning of this account, • “Trusted in themselves” — lit. “persuaded “trusted in himself”, and so stood before • “Trusted in themselves” — lit. “persuaded “trusted in himself”, and so stood before themselves” (pepoithotas). God alone (without any Advocate, Savior, or themselves” (pepoithotas). God alone (without any Advocate, Savior, or — Rather the Christian’s trust is in the Lord. ). — Rather the Christian’s trust is in the Lord. Redeemer). • They believed that they were righteous in • “I thank you” — Greek: eucharisto. He focused • They believed that they were righteous in • “I thank you” — Greek: eucharisto. He focused and of themselves before God. solely on his sacrifice of praise rather than and of themselves before God. solely on his sacrifice of praise rather than • Note how “righteous”/”justified” bookends God’s work of propitiation for his sins. • Note how “righteous”/”justified” bookends God’s work of propitiation for his sins. this text — at the beginning there are those • Consider how this Pharisee strongly resembles this text — at the beginning there are those • Consider how this Pharisee strongly resembles who justify themselves, but in the end the tax the older brother of Luke 15:25-30. who justify themselves, but in the end the tax the older brother of Luke 15:25-30. collector is justified by God. • “Not as the rest” — The Pharisee is setting collector is justified by God. • “Not as the rest” — The Pharisee is setting himself apart as the only righteous man; this himself apart as the only righteous man; this is ultimately an attack on Christ and His is ultimately an attack on Christ and His righteousness. righteousness. • Augustine — The Pharisee had no mind to — Term is tied to the , which • Augustine — The Pharisee had no mind to — Term is tied to the Mercy Seat, which pray to God, but to laud himself. (Augustine, was sprinkled with the blood of the sin pray to God, but to laud himself. (Augustine, was sprinkled with the blood of the sin Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian offering on the Day of the Atonement. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian offering on the Day of the Atonement. Church. First Series, Vol. 6. [1.6]. Sermon LXV, The sprinkled blood pointed forward Church. First Series, Vol. 6. [1.6]. Sermon LXV, The sprinkled blood pointed forward 455) to Jesus’ sacrifice upon the Cross. By 455) to Jesus’ sacrifice upon the Cross. By • “He who prays for grace in this way does His death, Jesus made atonement — • “He who prays for grace in this way does His death, Jesus made atonement — not rely upon God’s mercy and treats Christ the justifying sacrifice — and entered not rely upon God’s mercy and treats Christ the justifying sacrifice — and entered with disrespect.” (Concordia: The Lutheran the heavenly sanctuary with His blood with disrespect.” (Concordia: The Lutheran the heavenly sanctuary with His blood Confessions, Apology of the Augsburg (Hebrews 9:11–14), opening the way for Confessions, Apology of the Augsburg (Hebrews 9:11–14), opening the way for Confession, Article V, 133) believers to enter into God’s presence Confession, Article V, 133) believers to enter into God’s presence (Hebrews 6:20). (Hebrews 6:20). 12 “‘I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on all that 12 “‘I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on all that I obtain.’ — Connection to the Old Testament Reading: I obtain.’ — Connection to the Old Testament Reading: Abel’s blood cries out for vengeance, the Abel’s blood cries out for vengeance, the • These are typical acts of piety for a Jew, and sprinkled blood of Christ speaks a better • These are typical acts of piety for a Jew, and sprinkled blood of Christ speaks a better yet more than what was commanded in the word (Hebrews 12:24). yet more than what was commanded in the word (Hebrews 12:24). Old Testament. Old Testament. • This was not simply an outward act of piety • This was not simply an outward act of piety • The Pharisee’s works are not the problem. or devotion — The tax collector truly believed • The Pharisee’s works are not the problem. or devotion — The tax collector truly believed These are fine, outward things. The problem what he said. He was truly repentant. These are fine, outward things. The problem what he said. He was truly repentant. is the Pharisee’s trust in those works. is the Pharisee’s trust in those works. 14 “I say to you, this man went down to his house 14 “I say to you, this man went down to his house 13 13 “But the tax collector, standing at a distance, justified rather than the other. For everyone “But the tax collector, standing at a distance, justified rather than the other. For everyone would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, humbles himself will be exalted.” his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, humbles himself will be exalted.” a sinner!’ a sinner!’ • Rather than declaring himself righteous, • Rather than declaring himself righteous, • The tax collector did not trust in himself, and like the Pharisee, the tax collector is declared • The tax collector did not trust in himself, and like the Pharisee, the tax collector is declared so he stood far off, and begged that God righteous by God. so he stood far off, and begged that God righteous by God. would propitiate him. would propitiate him. • Note how those who exalt are plural; he who • Note how those who exalt are plural; he who • “Be merciful” — lit. “propitiate” (hilastheti). humbles himself is singular. • “Be merciful” — lit. “propitiate” (hilastheti). humbles himself is singular. This means to be reconciled, to make This means to be reconciled, to make atonement, to offer sacrifice for. Ultimately — Most notable use is in Philippians 2. atonement, to offer sacrifice for. Ultimately — Most notable use is in Philippians 2. it means, “Justify me.” See also Matthew 11. it means, “Justify me.” See also Matthew 11. — See 1 John 2:1-2. • Only the humble would pray for and receive — See 1 John 2:1-2. • Only the humble would pray for and receive God’s forgiveness, rather than boasting God’s forgiveness, rather than boasting in their own works. in their own works.

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