What Should We Boast About?
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Please open your Bible and read Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14.
Jonah had just fled from God, almost caused a shipwreck, been thrown overboard, and was swallowed by a whale. He was a prophet of God, and yet he sinned against God by fleeing from Him. As he sat inside the whale, did he repent of his deeds? Hardly. In fact, listen carefully to what he says:
“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.” (Jonah 2:8-9)
Sounds a little like the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable, doesn’t it? Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector to “some who were confident of their own righteousness”. (Luke 18:9) The Pharisee thought by fasting twice a week and tithing he was made right with God. However, no one has the ability to justify themselves before God. Jesus explains that the tax collector, who humbly asked for forgiveness of his sin, “went home justified before God” while the Pharisee did not (v14). The apostle Paul explains that “a person is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16, TNIV).
We all sometimes feel superior to others and boast about how we are superior to “evildoers”. In reality, however, “No one is good – except God alone.” (Luke 18:19) Don’t pray “God, I thank you that I am not like that Pharisee” because then you’d be making the very same mistake that the Pharisee made. Instead of disparaging others, remember that we have nothing to boast about ourselves (that should keep us humble) and that it is only by God’s loving grace that we are saved: Boast about God has done instead!
“Let those who boast boast in the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 10:17, TNIV)
Question: Are there situations where we feel superior to others? How can we guard against those kinds of feelings?
Hi Mark & Jeff,
Thank you for your questions. There are a couple reasons that I think Jonah did not truly repent. The way I see it, repentance requires a couple of things. First, it involves admission of guilt (ie, confession). Second, it requires a change in action. Third, it requires a change in heart.
Did Jonah admit guilt? No, I don’t see any form of confession in his prayer.
Did Jonah change his actions? Yes, he eventually did do what God told him to do.
Did Jonah change his heart? No, this is made clear by his reaction after the Ninevites turn to God.
So IMHO, Jonah did not truly repent. He changed his actions, but he neither apologized nor changed his heart. He may have done so after the events recorded in the book that bears his name, we don’t know, but based on the text alone, I don’t see him repenting.
I agree with Mark, I do not understand the inclusion of the story of Jonah. Would love some sort of explanation.
i DONT UNDERSTAND AS IT SEEMS TO ME THAT JONAH REPENTED IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS ENTIRE PRAYER.. YET YOU STATE HE DIDNT AND ACTED LIKE A PHARISEE? I DONT SEE THAT AND NOW IM CONFUSED AS IT SEEMS YOU TOOK A PART OF HIS PRAYER AND MADE IT LOOK LIKE HE WAS UNREPENTIVE.. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK AS I USE THIS SITE EVERY DAY AND NOW IM CONFLICTED BY THIS DEVOTIONAL USING THIS PART OF HIS PRAYER OUR OF CONTEXT. IT DOESNT FIT AND PLEASE EXPLAIN SO I CAN UNDERSTAND !!! PLEASE i LOVE THIS SITE .. PLEASE EXPLAIN…