The Publican's Shame and Confidence

The Pharisee in Jesus' story is a picture of piety: fasting and tithing more than the law requires (for he tithes on all he has, not merely on all his income), and he thanks God for the way he is; he thanks him for the grace given to be this way. But it is not enough; it did not justify him, he was excluded. And whether your piety is  this good or not even, you have reason to be ashamed. See, the publican was ashamed of himself, as is right for a Christian. He did not belong there; nor do you belong here, where angels, archangels, saints, apostles, and martyrs congregation around the Body and Blood of Christ. And so like the publican, be ashamed of yourself like the publican standing in the back who did not even lift up his eyes. Yet the publican was also confident. He cry for mercy was a cry for a just mercy, rooted in the mercy seat, that is, in the propitiation, the atonement for sin that only Christ can make. Mercy and truth are met together in Him, and therefore the publican, citing the atonement, is confident about mercy, even though he marks himself as the sinner, the one for whom atonement was necessary. He was confident in his justification and his salvation. Let us also gain this confidence. Sermon for Trinity XI. The video is here.