Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Luke 18:10 (NIV)
Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Part 7
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14.
What's your first thought when you read this parable? Being part of its modern audience, I’ve read this parable and have said to myself, “Man, Pharisees are morons…How could they judge someone coming to pray and offer their lives up to God? I’m glad I’m not like that Pharisee!” (we’ll come back to that point later).
But Jesus first-century Jewish audience may have heard this parable a little differently.
Jesus told this story to a group of people who he knew were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else. The verses before and after this parable indicate that he’s probably not talking with those in opposition to him, but his own followers and disciples. This parable starts to mess me up right at the beginning!! It's so easy to identify yourself with being part of the crowd that has all the answers; THE group THAT IS right.
But hang on, that's right isn’t it? Those of us who call Jesus “Lord” are on the right team and those who don’t are on the wrong team, right?
Perhaps this dualistic view of right and wrong, of positional salvation and works-based-righteousness is what Jesus is trying to address. We love to draw lines in the sand. It’s an easier way to live – there are those on the wrong side and others, including ourselves, on the right side. This kind of attitude exists within and outside of faith. And it’s toxic in every environment.
Keep in mind that when Jesus began this parable, he didn’t say to his audience, “You all think you’re better than everyone, so listen to this story and I'll show you how it really is…”
Instead of addressing them directly, Jesus throws them this parable, and it sinks down deep into their souls, and messes with their pre-conceived ideas and notions of ‘rightness.’ Provocative and alive.
“A Pharisee and a Tax Collector went to the temple to pray.”
Although the temple was a place ANYONE could come to pray – there was a court for gentiles, women, men, priests, high priests – Jesus audience most likely related to the Pharisee. They were not seen as public enemies. They were men who helped and cared, who took time with those in trouble, explained the Torah, and would lend their strength and ear whenever it was needed. To the everyday person, the Pharisee was a hero. This Pharisee was no exception. It's easy for us to judge his piety because we can hear his prayer. But in Jesus story the Pharisee prayed by himself, not out loud but in private reflection. The fact that he was a good man, a great Pharisee, is nothing to judge him by. It was tradition that people of his standing prayed and thanked God that they were born into good circumstances and with the character to live according to the law. It was a part of gratitude. This part of his prayer is not where the Pharisee went wrong.
Think about it. We teach our children to obey the rules, to be kind and helpful, to live as right, as true and as justly as they possibly can. How can we mock this man when he is able to do so? Jesus audience would have viewed this Pharisee as the man they all wanted to be. The hero. Some may have even laughed with expectation and admiration like we would when our storytellers explain the good looks and strength of Batman (my personal favorite) or Superman.
But this hero was about to become just like us ordinary folk. The Tax Collector makes a surprise entrance, and once again Jesus throws a cat among the pigeons… can one of the most hated men in society become the hero of our story?
Go to Part 8 – Tax Collectors and Sinners
[vcex_image_grid columns=”3″ pagination=”false” thumbnail_link=”custom_link” link_title_tag=”true” custom_links_target=”_blank” overlay_style=”title-category-visible” columns_gap=”5″ img_hover_style=”fade-out” image_ids=”20934,20935,20937″ custom_links=”https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1239768002?pt=118656308&ct=blog%20footer&mt=8,https://www.pktfuel.com/dailyemail,https://www.pktfuel.com/support” img_height=”350″]