Jesus is More than Merciful -- He is Our Mercy Seat

In Luke 18, Jesus shared a parable about a Pharisee and a Publican praying in the temple. (Luke 18: 9-14)

The Pharisee thanked God that he was better than other men, that he tithed a tenth of everything, that he did not steal, that he was better than the Publican praying off the side.

Man cannot be justified for his law-keeping, no matter how exact or rigorous:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3: 20)

and

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2: 16)

The Publican, on the other hand, would not even look to heaven, but beat his chest, crying out, "Have mercy on me, a sinner."

Most people think that the Publican was "justified" because he pleaded and cried, because he gave a performance of contrition. On the country, the Publican was justified because he recognized that a sacrifice has been made on his behalf, taking his judgment for him.

Luke 18:13 reads:

"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."

Here, "be merciful" renders the original verb "hilaskomai": to be propitious, make propitiation.

"Propitiation" literally means "mercy seat", the element of the Ark of the Covenant where the high priest would sprinkle blood to atone for the sins of the people (Exodus 25: 17-22)

Jesus is now our mercy seat, now and forever:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3: 23-26)

The Publican's cry was not just for mercy, but for grace based on the propitiation for his sins. He sought a mediator (, one who would cancel, forgive his sins, which Jesus Christ died when dying on the Cross. In no way does the Publican's display of pity, piety, or remorse qualify him for justification. Rather, the Publican asked that God would make a way for him to be forgiven.


So, beloved, today you must understand that you are not forgiven for your sins because you are sorry for what they have done, but only because you have believed on the Finished Work of Jesus Christ:

"And he is the propitiation (lit. hilasmos,mercy seat) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

Because God has taken out His righteous wrath for our sins on our sins, John can write:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 9)

And you can trust in the same: Jesus' propitiation for our sin cleanses you!