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Eleventh Sunday after Trinity (1886)

We read in the Gospel that our dear Lord Christ had often reproved the

Pharisees for their self-righteousness. No one should then think this should not concernus since there is no sect of the Pharisees these days. There may now not be such a sect

that bears this name, but the Pharisees have left behind "many sons and heirs"; "for the

whole world with the best there is in it is altogether drowned in this vice (self-

righteousness)." 1Yes, even those who believe in Christ and seek their righteousness in

Him alone must continually bewail about their evil heart that tempts them to set up a

righteousness of their own and not to be subject to the righteousness that avails before

God.2We should rightly take to heart Christ's preaching against the self-righteousness

of the Pharisees. We find such preaching in today's Gospel.

Luke 18:9-14.

The Lord shows us in the text just read, etc.

What an abomination self-righteousness is;

the self-righteous Pharisee

1. robs God of glory,

a. he ascribes to himself what God alone can do and wants to do, namely to

justify3

;b. he does not give God glory . of truthfulness, in that he makes God, Who

declares all men to be sinners4, a liar, . of holiness and righteousness, in that he

presumes to be pious, to stand before the holy God with his works and imagines to be

able to satisfy His righteousness, . of mercy, in that he has no need of divine mercy and

a Savior. "For what else is it, but to blaspheme and defy the lofty majesty of God, when

he prays and says: I thank thee, God, that I am so holy and good, that I never need thy

grace; but I find so much in myself, that I have kept the law, and you cannot accuse me

of anything, and I have deserved so much, that you are bound to repay and reward me

again for it in time and in eternity, if you would keep your own honor, and be a just and

truthful God."5

1Luther's Church Postil, 2:2:353.2Romans 10:3.3Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:33.4Psalm 14:3.5Church Postil, 2:2:355.

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c. he took glory from God with the pretense that he was giving glory to Him.6

"Now see, what a disgraceful, monstrous devil is in such a beautiful saint, who can

cover himself with a thin appearance of a few works which he performs before the eyes

of the people, and what he does in his worship, thanks, and prayers, whereby he

blasphemes and dishonors the high majesty with outrage and defiance", etc.7;

2. despises others,

a. he considers himself better than others and sees others as sinners and

depraved. "Further, since he has now blasphemed God and lied to him, because he is

unwilling to confess his sins, he falls further and sins against love to his neighbor....

Hence he is so full of hatred to his neighbor, if God allowed him to judge, he would

plunge the poor publican down into the deepest hell."8

b. he did not worry himself that they are reformed. "For when he sees and

knows that his neighbor sins against God, he does not think how he can convert and

save him from the wrath of God and condemnation, that he may reform; he has nomercy or sympathy in his heart for the distress and affliction of a poor sinner" etc.9

c. he tickles himself at the sins of others. "[A]nd what is the worst of all, he is

glad and of good courage, because his neighbor is under the power of sin and the wrath

of God.... For of what use can such a man be in the kingdom of God, who can still

rejoice, yea, laugh and be heartily pleased at the sins and disobedience" etc.10

3. deceives himself,

a. he enters into the delusion that there is good in him, that he is righteous and

that God delights in him.b. the Lord pronounces the condemnation of judgment over him.

Gnther

6Luke 18:11 ("I thank you, God").7Church Postil 2:2: 357.8Church Postil 2:2:345f.9Church Postil 2:2:355.10Church Postil 2:2: 355f.