Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 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. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Here in Luke 18, Jesus tells us the parable of the pharisee and the publican. He used these two figures to teach us about propitiation. The pharisee saw his relationship with God built upon his own works. He kept the law and saw his righteousness conditioned upon what he did. His works were what he looked to for salvation. In contrast to the pharisee, the publican saw his state before a holy God. He sees that he has no hope outside of God intervening. In verse 13 he says be merciful to me. The word merciful is a form of hilasterion which we have previously seen is the word for propitiation in Romans 3:25. The publican is asking God to be propitious. He is asking God to deal with his sin. God does not place a condition upon us in order for Him to be propitious toward us. The publican saw his only hope was for God to deal with his sin. He saw that God had to deal with God to satisfy the wrath of God. That is what Jesus did when He was set forth as the propitiation. It was God satisfying God.
Jesus is pointing out to us the difference between works and grace. The pharisee saw his standing before God based upon his works. We have already heard Paul say in Romans 3:
Romans 3:20 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.
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
The pharisee sees his standing before God based upon what he has done. He has followed the law. Self-righteousness is his plea. The publican sees his hopeless state before God and pleads with God to satisfy His justice in Himself. That is the message Christ was speaking. Our just standing before God is up to God Himself. There is no work that we can do, there is no condition that we can perform. Salvation is of the Lord.