Jean’s Gospel: Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Pharisee and the Tax Collector
âHe also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: âTwo men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.â â (Luke 18:9-14)
âTwo men went up into the temple to pray.â Here we have two men, both circumcised Jews. At some point, their paths diverged radically. One man, a Pharisee, dedicated his life to Torah and the traditions of his people. To pursue the path of a Pharisee meant tremendous dedication and discipline. Pharisaic Judaism was highly esteemed by the Jewish people.
The other man, a tax collector, dedicated his life to the values of the world, abandoning both Torah and the traditions of his people, to serve mammon. He chose to make his living by extorting and oppressing his people on behalf of his Roman employers. Tax collectors were considered manifest sinners by the Jewish people.
âTwo men went up into the temple to pray.â
Both men were of the people of God, but which one would make a suitable candidate for election to church council or elder, or appointment as a Sunday School teacher or small group leader? What do we look for in a person?
âThe Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: âGod, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.â â (Luke 18:11-12)
The Pharisee had an awesome résumé. He did not commit a laundry list of outward sins. He would not bring embarrassment to our church. It would be safe to leave our children alone with him. He is super committed, even going beyond what the Law requires in his lifestyle. Notably, the Pharisee was a tither.
True, the Pharisee comes across as prideful. But, then again, no one is perfect, and his positives far outweigh his negatives, do they not?
âBut the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, âGod, be merciful to me, a sinner!â â (Luke 18:13)
The tax collector, on the other hand, had a spotted résumé, to say the least. He worked as an officer of Roman occupation, in an office which was notorious for dishonesty, extortion and oppression. Would he be welcome as a member in good standing in our churches? Could he serve as an elder or on church council, or teach Sunday School?
True, the tax collector might be one of the good ones, like Zacchaeus, but how would visitors know? True, the tax collector admits his sin and demonstrates remorse, but has he really repented? What proof do we have that he has forsaken his dishonest practices? He seems a bit risky to embrace, does he not?
What is Jesus teaching us?
(1) âHe also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteousâ
âGod, I thank you that I am not like other menâŠ.â The Pharisee thought he was better in the eyes of God than other men. He even thanked God for making him a better man. Since in his mind he was righteous, the Pharisee had no need of Godâs mercy. He trusted in himself and His works.
The Pharisee actually was much worse off than the tax collector, who had not a shred of righteousness to offer God in his short prayer: âGod, be merciful to me, a sinner!â With respect to our standing before God, our holy living avails us nothing.
No one is righteous before God, âfor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.â (Rom 3:23-25) By trusting in his own holy living, the Pharisee rejected the righteousness of faith, which the tax collector longed to receive from Godâs mercy.
Jesus never says that living a moral and holy outward life is sinful or bad, but warns us against placing our trust in our own works. The righteousness of faith is always the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by God the Father for the sake of His Son who gave His life for us. In other words, our righteousness is not our own, but is outside of us, received by faith in the Word of grace proclaimed for us: âGod shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.â (Rom 5:8-9).
(2) âHe also told this parable to some who ⊠treated others with contemptâ
The Pharisee despised his neighbor. He was quite pleased to stand aloof with his prayer and his good deeds and condemn the tax collector to judgment and hell. If the Pharisee truly understood the meaning of the Law, he would have known that love fulfills the Law: âFor the whole law is fulfilled in one word: âYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.â â (Gal 5:14)
Conversely, without love, our works are worth nothing. âIf I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.â (1 Cor 13:-3)
âFor if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.â (Rom 5:10)
Christ died for Godâs enemies, that is: you; me; the Pharisee; the tax collector; racists; leftists; the LGBT community; etc. If Christ gave His life for the whole miserable lot of us, then we who confess Christ as Lord cannot despise him or her who Christ has died for. If Christ is our Good Samaritan, then are we not to be the good Samaritans of our enemies?
- Could the Pharisee have prayed for, rather than against, the tax collector?
- Could the Pharisee have asked if the tax collector would like someone to speak with?
- Could the Pharisee have offered to help the tax collector with a plan of restitution for anyone defrauded by the tax collectorâs prior practices?
âI tell you, went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.â (Luke 18:14)
The Pharisee in the parable missed his chance that particular day to receive Godâs mercy, but Jesus is a merciful and forgiving Savior. Perhaps God humbled the poor Pharisee while there was still time for him to repent.
As for us, may the Lord humble us, keep us from the errors of the Pharisee, repent us when we fail, and above all, teach us to trust solely in the grace of God for our salvation, as it is written:
âIndeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faithâ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.â (Phil 3:8-11) Amen.
God, I thank you that I am not like other men, like this Pharisee.
Oh…. wait….
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Such a powerful parable for me. After a horrendous divorce 10 years ago, I had to unpack 50 years of Christianity to understand my faith and how to apply it. I actually heard 2 different preachers during reformation 5 years ago…it was an awakening for me. I then went on a journey that connected dots that I had failed to see. My son whom went on this journey with me allowed us both to confront some ugly truths. He went Anglican. Me? Still a little bit of everything but grounded in truth. Thx for the blessings in sharing.
Joel,
I am learning to understand why of the 52 Gospel lessons included in the one year historic Lectionary, this particular parable made the cut. It is one I need to re-learn yearly, if not more often.
prodinov,
Nice to make your acquaintance.
Jean,
This one is always, always relevant. And this form of pride creeps in so insiduosly. I often feel like I have to re-learn this lesson daily.
Why is it often so hard to remember that we bring nothing to the table?
Hi Owen,
“Why is it often so hard to remember that we bring nothing to the table?”
It seems endemic to our sinful nature. It seems to be an attempt to preserve some individual autonomy, whether by appealing to a “free will” or by believing that we are co-workers with God in our sanctification. Great question. Why do you think?
Jean,
And, there it is – sinful nature. The root of which (I believe) is pride, pure and simple.
To expound a little on your thought regarding individual autonomy – I think maybe we don’t like the thought of losing ourselves, even though it means gaining Christ.
“5 âFor God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.â”
I wonder if the “be like God” could also mean wanting our own autonomy, as He has?