Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:

This is a famous and very important parable, but what struck me just now was that it was addressed directly to the very people Jesus was talking about. He wasn’t saying things behind their backs, but confronting them to their faces. Doubtless some got angry, but perhaps some had their eyes opened. That was always Jesus’ aim, no matter how severe His words might have seemed in the moment. Even talking with Pilate, the man who would sentence Him to death, Jesus spoke in ways that, if Pilate later thought about it, would lead him to repentance and faith. Jesus was never in the business of condemning people. Rather, we condemn ourselves by our own words and actions. It is no accident that the most famous verse in the Bible is followed by, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17) Reading further in John 3 makes the point very clear that we send ourselves to hell, by loving darkness rather than light. Eternal darkness is certainly nothing to aim for! Sometimes we forget that evangelism is telling people they are headed for hell. Those who already know it are sometimes the easiest to save! It’s the ones like Jesus was talking to here who are the hardest cases, because they are convinced they have a “gold ticket to heaven.” That is of course a lie of Satan, who has condemned himself to hell and wants to take as many people as possible with him. The theme of the readings we are following at this point is Mercy, and it is not merciful to fail to warn someone when they are headed for horrible destruction.

I have never been a “hellfire and brimstone” preacher, and I don’t intend to become one, but I may have erred a bit much on the side of “sweetness and light.” Jesus was neither vehement nor vindictive as He spoke this parable, but He certainly didn’t pull any punches. I must do the same, never holding back from what the Lord wants me to say, but always doing it in love, as Jesus did. That balance is difficult, and I will get it right only by complete dependence on and obedience to the Holy Spirit. I am not to condemn people, but I may have to tell them they have condemned themselves. That’s not an enjoyable task, but everyone needs to be given the opportunity to repent.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me never be “confident of my own righteousness,” but always humbly grateful for Your grace. May my words always draw people to You and not drive them away, so that as many as will may repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!