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APRIL 25
avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when
the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith
on the earth?”
51:4 Against You, You only. David realized 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who
what every believer seeking forgiveness must, trusted in themselves that they were righ-
that even though he had tragically wronged teous, and despised others: “Two men went
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Bathsheba and Uriah, his ultimate crime was up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and
against God and His holy law (see 2 Sam.11:27).
the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood
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and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank
51:5 brought forth in iniquity. David also
acknowledged that his sin was not God’s fault You that I am not like other men—ex-
in any way (vv.4b,6) nor was it some aberration. tortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this
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Rather, the source of David’s sin was a fallen, tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes
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sinful disposition, his since conception. of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector,
standing afar off, would not so much as raise
his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,
‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you,
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And in the hidden part You will make this man went down to his house justified
me to know wisdom.
rather than the other; for everyone who exalts
Proverbs 14:31–32 himself will be humbled, and he who humbles
himself will be exalted.”
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He who oppresses the poor reproaches 15 Then they also brought infants to Him that
his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on He might touch them; but when the disciples
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saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called
the needy.
them to Him and said, “Let the little children
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The wicked is banished in his come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such
wickedness, is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to
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But the righteous has a refuge in his you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of
death. God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying,
Luke 18:1–23
“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal
Then He spoke a parable to them, that life?”
18 men always ought to pray and not lose 19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me
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heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not com-
Now there was a widow in that city; and she mit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’
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came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father
my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; and your mother.’ ”
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but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept
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I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because from my youth.”
this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest 22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said
by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust have and distribute to the poor, and you will
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judge said. And shall God not avenge His own have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
elect who cry out day and night to Him, though 23 But when he heard this, he became very
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He bears long with them? I tell you that He will sorrowful, for he was very rich.
DAY 25:Why is human righteousness so insufficient for salvation?
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9–14 is rich with truth about the
doctrine of justification by faith. It illustrates perfectly how a sinner who is utterly devoid of per-
sonal righteousness may be declared righteous before God instantaneously through an act of
repentant faith. The parable is addressed to Pharisees who trusted their own righteousness (vv.
10,11).Such confidence in one’s inherent righteousness is a damning hope (see Rom.10:3;Phil.3:9),
because human righteousness—even the righteousness of the most fastidious Pharisee—falls
short of the divine standard (Matt. 5:48). Scripture consistently teaches that sinners are justified
when God’s perfect righteousness is imputed to their account (see Gen.15:6;Rom.4:4,5;2 Cor.5:21;
Phil. 3:4–9)—and it was only on that basis that this tax collector (or anyone else) could be saved.
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