Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Feb 4 2020 - Luke 18:1-17 – Two men at prayer

Twice a day there was a time of prayer at the temple, once at dawn and once again in the latter part of the afternoon (sometimes referred to as evening). On these two occasions a lamb was offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. As the smoke of sacrifice and incense ascended, the people who had come to the temple would offer up their own prayers. The sacrifice was to be the ground of their prayer – the atonement for their sin. The incense is a picture of their prayers ascending to God, sweet and acceptable to him.

When Jesus tells the parable of two men going up to the temple to pray, this is the background picture that would have been familiar to his hearers.

The Pharisee in Jesus' parable "stood by himself and prayed" (Luke 18:10). The Pharisee did not join the crowd; he thought of himself as quite separate from the common herd of people who were praying that day; "God, I thank you that I am not like other people... I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." (18:11-12). We should realise that Jesus' hearers would not have thought the Pharisee's prayer arrogant; they would have heard it as a genuine prayer of thanksgiving to God that this man had been enabled to devote himself so meticulously to his religious duties. Yet in this prayer, and in his stance apart from the crowd, he displays a scornful attitude to others.

The tax collector in Jesus' parable is, in one sense, like the Pharisee. He also stands apart from the crowd, though this time "at a distance". He also will not identify with the crowd, but this time because he does not feel worthy to be counted as one of them. All that he can say with head cast down is, "God, have mercy upon me, a sinner" (18:13).

The Israelites had been taught through the ceremonies that took place in the temple that the mercy of God was made available to sinners through sacrifice. The lamb was sacrificed in the place of the sinner and a rebellious people were reconciled to God. The tax collector dimly understood this. He stands apart from the crowd for he hardly dares to hope that mercy can be for him. Yet he pleads that it may be so, praying, in effect, "God, may I also have part in all that is going on here. May this atoning sacrifice be for me. May I be forgiven and accepted."

We can only imagine what the crowds may have made of this story so far. But now comes the punch-line as Jesus says that it is this tax collector rather than the Pharisee who goes home justified – vindicated and accepted by God.

And in this parable, Jesus points to himself. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His sacrificial life and death are sweet and acceptable to God. Jesus came to save the lost; he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. It is because of him that we can come before God crying, "God, have mercy upon me, a sinner" and know that our prayers are accepted. Because of him we are justified, accepted. We need no longer stand at a distance; we are embraced as part of his family.

Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:12-13)

Father God, thank you for Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Thank you that in him I have found mercy and acceptance – I am justified and embraced. Help me to live confidently to your praise and glory, and to draw others into the embrace of your indiscriminate love.

Feb 4 2019 - Genesis 41:56-42:28 – Ten brothers go to Egypt

The famine affected not only Egypt but the whole of the surrounding region, including the land of Canaan. When Jacob learnt that grain was available in Egypt he sent his sons to buy food, keeping only Benjamin back, the remaining son of his beloved Rachel.

Joseph is overseeing the sale of grain at the place to which the brothers are directed – perhaps it is the one place where foreigners are allowed to buy food. His brothers bow down to him, just as had been revealed to Joseph some 20 years previously. Joseph recognises them but, unsurprisingly, they do not recognise this high official of Egypt.

Joseph decides to give his brothers a hard time. Accusing them of being spies, he demands that one of them, Simeon, be kept in custody in Egypt while the other nine return with the food. Simeon will only be released when they come back with their youngest brother – proof that their account of themselves is true.

This harsh treatment causes the brothers to recall the way they had treated their brother Joseph. They had failed to listen to his pleas to be released from the pit where they had thrown him. They had sold him into slavery and now one of them is bound and imprisoned in Egypt. Reuben, who had wanted to rescue Joseph, tells them that they are now being punished for their wrongdoing.

So the nine return with bags full of grain but, unbeknown to them, they return also with their money hidden in their sacks. Outwardly, Joseph may be treating his brothers harshly, but in reality he is full of compassion towards them and wishes to bless them. Nevertheless, at this stage Joseph's brothers do not see the return of their money as an act of kindness but rather as a mistake which will get them into more trouble when they return to Egypt to rescue Simeon. Like Joseph, they believe that all that is happening is being directed by God, but they believe that God is at work to punish rather than to bless them. I am reminded of the hymn by William Cowper:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform …

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

Even when everything seems to be going wrong for us and all of our plans misfire, we can still trust God. He provides his people with the promise, "I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). Therefore we can respond with full assurance saying, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28). We know that, in the end, grace will triumph over judgment.

Holy Father, I recognise the many ways in which I have sinned against you and that I am deserving of your judgment. Thank you that you are a God who is abundant in mercy and love. Thank you that because of Jesus you do not treat me as my sins deserve. You have opened to me the storehouses of your grace and have invited me to come in and feast with you without cost.

Peter Misselbrook