<p>18:14 <i>I say to you, this man went home rendered righteous rather than the other. For everyone that exalts himself shall be humbled, but he that humbles himself shall be exalted</i>- This is alluded to in 2 Cor. 11:7. Paul told Corinth that he had abased himself so that <i>they</i> might be exalted, so that they could share the exaltation he would receive on account of his humility. In all this, of course, he reflected to his brethren the very essence of the attitude of the Lord Jesus for toward us. It was through refusing funding for his work from the Corinthians that he <i>abased</i> himself that they might be <i>exalted</i>- all language of the crucifixion (cp. Phil. 2:8,9). Thus his refusing of legitimate help to make his way easier was an enactment in himself of the cross. We live in a world which has made the fulfilment of personal aims of paramount importance. It has affected the fabric of every society, and become embedded in every mind. To <i>live to serve</i>, to put oneself down that others may rise&hellip; this is strange indeed. John the Baptist had this spirit, for he rejoiced that he decreased whilst the Lord&rsquo;s cause increased. Paul likewise abased himself that others might be exalted, after the pattern of the cross. God&rsquo;s gentleness, His humility / bowing down (Heb.) has made us great, lifted us up (Ps. 18:35). And we respond to it by humbling <i>our</i>selves.</p><p>So we are taught here that he who humbles himself in prayer will be exalted. Paul perhaps had this in mind when he spoke of how the Lord Jesus on the cross humbled Himself that He might be exalted (Phil. 2). Real prayer is a humiliating experience, a true humbling of self after the pattern of the Lord&rsquo;s crucifixion. We really need to ask ourselves whether this is anywhere near true of our prayer life.</p><p>To come before &quot;the throne of grace&quot; is to come in essence before the judgment and before the cross of our Lord. Inevitably these things convict us of our desperation. The publican who beat upon his breast &quot;went down to his house justified&quot;. Yet we were justified by the shedding of the blood of Christ (Rom. 5:9). That man's faith was consciously focused upon the Lord's sacrifice. We believe on Him who justifies us, through the blood of the cross (Rom. 4:5), and this faith is manifested through focusing upon the cross, and expressing it in prayer to be justified. The publican went home after prayer &quot;justified rather than the other&quot;. It has been suggested that this reflects &quot;a Semitic idiom which describes&hellip; an anticipation of his acquittal in the final judgment&quot;.</p><p>The language of justification &quot;rendered righteous&quot; as noted on :11 and :12 is preparing the way for Paul's inspired expansion of these ideas in Romans.</p>