I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
I tell you - authoritatively,
This man went down to his house justified rather than the other. The meaning is, 'and not the other.'
For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. This great law of the Kingdom of God is, in the teaching of Christ, inscribed over its entrance-gate as in letters of gold; but how vividly is it here depicted?
Remarks:
(1) The grand peculiarity of the religion of the Bible is salvation by grace; a salvation, however, unto holiness-not by, but unto, good works. It pervades the Old Testament (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalms 25:7; Psalms 34:18; Psalms 138:6; Psalms 147:6; Isaiah 57:15, etc.); though its full disclosure, in connection with the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, was naturally reserved for the New Testament. And yet, so natural is self-righteousness to the pride of the human heart, that it has found its way even into the doctrinal system of the Church; and by that apostasy which panders to all the corrupt inclinations of our nature, while preserving the form of evangelical truth, it has been erected into a most subtle scheme which, while apparently ascribing all to grace, is in reality a doctrine of salvation by works. (See the canons and decrees of the Council of Trent, Sess. VI. Decretum de Justificatione; particularly 100: 7: 9: with Can. 9: 11: VI. Decretum de Justificatione; particularly 100: 7: 9. with Can. 9: 11; 12: 13.) 'Even into Protestant Churches the very same doctrine has found entrance, under different forms of language, and in times of religious indifference and general degeneracy has spread its deadly virus over whole regions once blooming with health; nor is it effectually dislodged in any heart except by divine teaching.
(2) To be self-emptied, or "poor in spirit" is the fundamental and indispensable preparation for welcoming the "grace which bringeth salvation." Wherever this exists, that "mourning" which precedes comfort, that "hungering and thirsting after righteousness" which is rewarded with the "fulness" of it, is invariably found-as in this publican. Such, therefore, and such only, are the truly justified ones. "He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away" (Luke 1:53).
Here at length our Evangelist-after traveling over three hundred and fifty-one verses almost alone-gets again upon the line, traveling, as will be seen, in company with the two preceding Evangelists, though each, if one might so speak, on separate rails.