Sermon -- Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2018)

LUKE 18:9-14

REPENTANCE SEEKS 

ONLY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

In the name + of Jesus.

     (Jesus) told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. (Luke 18:9)  The parable is a warning for people who go to church.  While the men in the parable had very different reputations before the people, both were sons of the covenant.  Both went to the temple to pray.  The Pharisee was a teacher of the law.  He was an example of pious living.  We might even think of him as a pastor.  On the other hand, there was a tax collector.  He was a Jewish man who hired himself out to the Romans to collect taxes from his fellow country men.  These tax collectors were known thieves.  They inflated the amount you owed for your taxes and kept the extra for themselves.  Everyone knew it, but there was nothing you could do about it.  You had to pay what you were told to pay. 
     “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.” (Luke 18:10)  One was an example of virtue, respected by everyone.  One was an example of villainy, despised by all.  Nevertheless, each man knew where he needed to go—to the temple where God had chosen to dwell with his people and to bless them. 
     The Pharisee was the first to pray.  He stood up in the courtyard, stretched out his hands to heaven (as was the typical posture for prayer), and prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” (Luke 18:11-12)  Now, the Pharisee was probably telling the truth about himself.  Morally, he was better than most.  He was not a cheat.  He did not sleep around with other women.  He fasted, and he tithed—not just his income, but everything that came into his possession. 
     The tax collector, on the other hand, did not assume the usual posture for prayer.  He did not look up to heaven, as if he should expect to receive something from there.  Instead, he beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13)  Everything the tax collector said about himself was true, too.  He was a sinner.  He did not sugar coat it.  He did not make excuses, such as, “Well, if I didn't collect taxes, someone else would do it.  He might cheat even worse than me.”  He simply acknowledged what he was—a sinner.
     Now, once again, remember why Jesus told this parable.  (Jesus) told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. (Luke 18:9)  This parable is for you.  It is likely that you are an example of virtue rather than villainy.  And it is likely that you could make a list of things you do which illustrate your Christian life—church attendance, giving offerings, and decent behavior.  Like the Pharisee, you would probably be telling the truth.  However, the problem with the Pharisee is this: Even though he went to the right place for worship and prayer, he did not believe the word of the God who dwelt there. 
     We heard the word of the Lord in our Old Testament lesson: Our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities.... (Isaiah 59:12)  This confession is meant for the lips of all people, for all are sinners.  It is not for us to compare ourselves with others, trying to determine who is better or who is worse.  When we do, we pick the best of ourselves and compare it to the worst of others.  The Pharisee looked down on the tax collector with contempt.  It was not hard to do.  The tax collector was despised by everyone as a cheat and a traitor.  The tax collector probably assumed he could never be good enough, not as good and the Pharisee, anyway.  It does not matter.  We are to compare ourselves to God's Law, not to others.  God's holy Law multiplies our sins.  God shows us our envy, our pride, our sinister thoughts, our selfish motives, and our efforts to preserve our good reputation even if we have to lie, deceive, or slander to do it.  There is no reason that we should expect any good to come to us from heaven.  We have earned wrath.  The best we can do is to take our place with the tax collector and plead for mercy.
     No matter how bad the tax collector had been, he believed God's word.  Therefore, he went to God's house and prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13)  More accurately, his prayer was, “God, be propitiated to me, a sinner.”  In other words, the tax collector was praying that God would be appeased by an atoning sacrifice made on his behalf.  Repentance seeks only this atoning sacrifice, which is the blood of Christ.
     Repentant hearts do not try to convince God that our sins aren't that bad.  Repentant hearts do not make excuses.  The Lord multiplies our transgressions before us; and so, we are alarmed by our sins and the wrath they deserve.  What comfort is there is knowing that others are worse?  We answer only for our own sins.  Therefore, we seek an atoning sacrifice which would appease the wrath of God.  Repentance seeks only the blood of Christ.
     Are you a sinner?  Good.  Because Jesus Christ comes only for sinners.  He is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.  That means his blood is spilled out before God the Father to be the ransom price which buys you back from sin, death, and the devil.  That means he burns in the fires of God's wrath and is consumed in the torments of hell.  His holy, innocent sufferings and death appeases the wrath of God which stands against all who are guilty.  He bears your guilt.  He bears your punishment.  He delivers you from death and wrath and hell.  This is what the tax collector prayed for.  This is what repentant hearts seek.  And this is what Jesus delivers to you.  Repentant hearts seek only the blood of Christ; for this alone puts an end to God's wrath.  This alone covers your sin.  This alone saves.
     Two men went up to the temple to pray.  They looked very different.  If someone had asked you which man was better, based on what you see, you would have said the Pharisee.  If asked which man deserved to have God's blessing, you would have said the Pharisee.  But based on God's word, you would have different answers.  Which was better?  Neither.  Both were sinners.  The Pharisee did not think so, but the tax collector believed God's word and confessed he was.  Which deserved God's blessing?  Neither.  Both deserved wrath.  The Pharisee did not think so, but the tax collector held God to his promises and pleaded for mercy.  Therefore, the tax collector sought propitiation.  Repentance seeks only the blood of Christ.
     Jesus rendered the surprise verdict: “I tell you, this man (that is, the tax collector) went down to his house justified, rather than the (Pharisee).” (Luke 18:14)  The tax collector did not justify himself.  That is impossible.  Rather, he was justified.  This is God's work, God's judgment, and God's verdict.  God declared the tax collector not guilty of sin based on the propitiation of Christ, that is, based on the blood which Christ shed as the atoning sacrifice for sinners.  This is how you are justified, too.  Jesus Christ is the propitiation, that is, the atoning sacrifice, for your sins.  He covered your sin in his righteousness when you were sprinkled in baptism.  He bestows God's peace as he gives you his blood in the Lord's Supper.  He has done all the work to remove your guilt from you.  He has cleansed you of every spot and stain of sin.  And he keeps you in the faith with his saving word of grace. 
     Repentance seeks only the blood of Christ.  For this alone saves.  And by faith in Jesus' blood and sacrifice, the Lord sends you home justified.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.