Luke 7:29-30 And all the people that heard [him], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
The Greek word translated as ‘justified’ is the word ‘dikaioo’ which speaks of rendering righteousness, a conjugation of the verb.
We read in today’s scripture that all the people who were baptised with the baptism of John, ‘justified God’, meaning they considered Him to be righteous; what we see also mentioned here is that amongst these were publicans – tax collectors, people considered extreme sinners, as we look at politicians today. At the same time, the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were tagged with being righteous and knowing Scripture respectively, rejected the warning against themselves; they did not accept the baptism of repentance.
The first step to accepting God is to accept that we are sinners and need Him. A person who feels they are ‘good’ and that nothing is wrong with them, and that what they have done is nothing of great concern, will never accept/turn to God or know God. They will be religious but never righteous.
To become righteous, we need to accept how unrighteous we are; it is only then the Lord works in us through our baptism in Him and makes us His righteous.
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. You Lord are Holy God and You alone are Holy. You are Righteous and since we are far from the Truth we are also far from Righteousness. We acknowledge the corruption is us and that we need You, only You can save us by transforming us. Lord we pray we surrender more and more to You and not be fooled by religion and traditions…
We make this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
Psalms 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.
Romans 3:4-6
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
Luke 3:12-13
12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.