Religious moralism and relativism
is ingrained in men by nature, showing the work of the law written
in their hearts. The Lord Jesus spent much of
his ministry exposing and combating these very notions which were
epitomized by the leaders among the Jews. The Pharisees and the
Sadducees were poster children for the perception that some
men are greater sinners than others, and that some men are
more deserving of destruction than others. Few people are free
from this concept in some measure. It is a most common trait to
look upon the transgressions of others with disdain while
justifying ourselves by a comparison of what we consider are our own
lesser faults. Very few would not admit that
they do have faults, yet all are able to find some who they
consider are worse than themselves. This is just indicative of the
actual depravity of all men rather than the proof that some are
less so than others, for all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God. Now there are many who will quote
this scripture with a twinkle in their eye who will turn right
around and grade others' actions compared to their own, and thank
God that they are not as bad as them. We see this mindset
epitomized in the sincere prayer of the Pharisee. 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. He took notice of this wicked
tax collector and had regard to his own morality compared
to him, even thanking God for his comparative righteousness.
He also mentioned his own performance of acts of devotion as he sought
to establish his own righteousness before the Lord. All of the righteousness
of men, whatever type it may be, is but done before the Lord,
who likened the righteousnesses of Israel to filthy rags. If the very best that men perform
is illustrated by filthy rags, how must their transgressions
appear? All men, without exception, are
worthy of death and destruction. It is a wonder of wonders that
the Lord has chosen to save any from among them. But such is
the good news of the gospel that he came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance. The man who has regard to his
own supposed righteousness is devoid of true repentance and
has no grounds upon which he might consider that he has been
called by the Lord. In the account of Zacchaeus is
a perfect illustration of the Lord's dealing with and calling
of his children. This tree which Zacchaeus climbed
was not a random tree. Rather, this was a particular
tree which was in the exact spot where it needed to be. Perhaps
the Lord had caused this tree to be planted before Zacchaeus
was ever born. It began to grow according to
the Lord's direction until it reached the exact size that it
needed to be for a man who was little of stature. Zacchaeus
had no intention of climbing this tree when he left home that
morning. When he heard that this man, Jesus of Nazareth, was passing
by this way, he probably figured he would stand with the crowd
in a leisurely manner and see what all of the hubbub was about.
Yet the crowd began to press upon him, and he was forced to
seek another vantage point where he might observe the goings-on.
Lo and behold, the sycamore tree was in just the right spot, and
the branches were spaced just right for him to climb up and,
as he thought, observe the parade unobstructed and unnoticed. Imagine his surprise when all
of a sudden the procession stopped and he found himself face to
face with the King of Salvation who had stopped at this exact
spot and looked up into the tree where he was perched. Imagine
his further surprise when this one whom he had never met called
him by name and invited himself over to Zacchaeus' house. The
Lord called him by name because he knew him from before the foundation
of the world, and just as he said, he calleth his own sheep
by name, and leadeth them out. He made no request of Zacchaeus,
but rather commanded Zacchaeus to come down, for he was going
to abide in his house this very day. Zacchaeus made haste and
came down immediately, for the Lord said, My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me. Thus the Lord came to a sinner's
house. The publicans and harlots go
into the kingdom, but the righteous among men shall perish.