Go Down to My House Justified

While Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He did not neglect His detractors, who also needed to learn valuable lessons about proper prayer. He directed the following parable specifically to "certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others."

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 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.
--Luke 18:10-14

The Pharisee prayed "with himself". It was almost like he was praying to himself. His prayer was meant to justify and satisfy himself, congratulating himself on his outstanding obedience. The tax collector, on the other hand, was well aware of his faults and sought mercy. 

The Pharisee asked for nothing, assuming his righteousness made him self-sufficient, while the publican pleaded in his humility for God to lift his insufficiency. The only real difference between the worthiness of the two men was the public knowledge of their sins. Each was a sinner in his own right. It was just that the publican's sins were easier to see. The Pharisee hid his sins beneath his robes of piety.

Jesus concluded that the pitiful publican was justified while the haughty Pharisee was not. To be justified in the gospel sense is to have Christ's atonement applied to us, to remove our sins and receive forgiveness. Both men needed forgiveness, but only the publican acknowledged his need and asked for the desired blessing, which was granted him. The Pharisee's pride, on the other hand, blinded him to the very sin for which he most needed justification--pride. His boastful prayer was of no value to him because it availed him nothing. He asked nothing and received nothing in return.

Setting aside the false good of which the Pharisee boasted, how much true good might the Pharisee have been able to do if he had seen himself in the true light? How much better can I become if I allow God to show me who I truly am, faults and weaknesses not withstanding, and then ask for His forgiveness and for the strength to try again?