A Pharisee and a Tax Collector went to the temple to pray. Luke 18:10 (TPT)

Jesus Audience – Us vs Them Series – Part 2

Go to  PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3  |  PART 4  |  PART 5  |  PART 6

In Luke 18, Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a Tax Collector. Two men who were praying in the same temple, to the same God, but one thought he was better than the other. It was a short parable, but it dug deep into the soul of Jesus First Century Jewish audience.

We love to draw lines in the sand and move to either side of it. It’s an easier way to live – there are those on the wrong side and others, including ourselves, on the right side. We don’t question anything on our side, or if we do we simply throw it onto the “wrong” side so that it can’t taint our rightness (or righteousness). It is anything but critical thinking, more passive and shallow in its exploration of where things and people and ideas belong in the world. This kind of attitude exists within and outside of faith, and it’s toxic in every environment.

With this in mind, we might think Jesus should have opened this parable with, “You all think you’re better than everyone, so listen to this story and I’ll show you how it really is…”

But, instead of addressing them directly, He throws them this parable. It sank down deep and messed with their pre-conceived ideas and notions of ‘rightness.’ It was provocative and alive – a cat among pigeons, so to speak.

“A Pharisee and a Tax Collector went to the temple to pray.” Luke 18:10.

Although the temple was a place where ANYONE could come to pray, there were certain ‘courts’ or areas assigned to certain people; there different courts for Gentiles, women, men, priests and high priests. So in a sense, they were all welcome but separated, labeled and kind of (totally) ranked. Jesus audience most likely were predominantly Pharisees or people who had some kind of spiritual status. Now, before you start beating up on Pharisees (like I’m tempted to do whenever I read about them), you need to realize that they were not seen as public enemies or religious morons in Jesus day. They were men who helped and cared for people, who took time with those who were in trouble, explained the Torah, and lent their strength and ear whenever it was needed. To the everyday person, a Pharisee was a hero, a friend and community champion.

So, when Jesus starts this parable with “A Pharisee and a Tax Collector” (walk into a bar… sorry, couldn’t help myself), his audience would have immediately taken to the Pharisee over the tax collector.

“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” Luke 18:11

It was a tradition that people of his ‘rank and position' prayed and thanked God that they were born into good circumstances and with the character to live according to the law. It was part of their practice of gratitude. Jesus audience would have viewed this Pharisee as the man they all wanted to be. The hero. They may have even thought to themselves “I wish I could be like him… a non-sinner… I want to be on his side.”

In the contending chair on the other side of this little parable, sits our Tax Collector. Unlike the Pharisee, Jesus audience would have immediately disliked this guy. Tax collectors were considered the scum of Jewish community, sellouts, cheaters, betrayers. When the Pharisee thanked God that he was not like the Tax Collector, perhaps Jesus audience thought, “us too…” (and to tell the truth, I used to, too…).

But the parable takes an unexpected turn when we come face to face with the question: Can one of the most hated men in society become the hero of our story?

Over to you.

How is it, that you identify with the Pharisee and/or the Tax Collector? Leave us a comment below.

Go to Part 3 – Luke 18 »

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