Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9-14

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

"God, be merciful to me, a sinner." These words resonate with me as I feel more "broken" than usual this year. The COVID virus trudges on, life is different, and I am tired. Today, in the context of this Ash Wednesday 2022, we are confronted with Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Both are broken in their own right. The difference between them is that the Tax collector knows he is broken. 

Tax collectors were the scoundrels of society that "took a little off the top" of the taxes they levied. It was even considered worse because they were often defrauding their own people. On the other hand, Pharisees were considered the "religious elite" with strict observance of the law (Torah). They often felt they were superior to or "holier than" others.

How we pray makes a difference. During the season of Lent, we are encouraged to look down deep into our brokenness, ask for forgiveness, and begin to let God heal us. With humble hearts and sometimes tears, we come before God looking for answers to the hurts in our life, hoping somehow to be restored and told everything will be ok. The scriptures assure us that God hears our cries for mercy and helps us. Eventually, everything turns out well.

Ash Wednesday 2021

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

I'm not sure if it's human nature for someone to think they are better than anyone else. However, this is undoubtedly the Pharisee and tax collector's case that find themselves together praying in the temple. The apparent "sinner" here is the tax collector, knowing that he has defrauded his people working for the government and probably skimming off the top. However, he seems also to be the most repentant... standing there beating his breast and asking for God's mercy.

The Pharisee seems pompous and arrogant, thinking that he couldn't be as bad a "sinner" as other folks. After all, he's a Pharisee. He boasts, probably out loud, about how much he fasts and how much he gives, and how much better he is than the other sinners. 

Jesus uses the Pharisee in comparison to those "who trusted in themselves," namely the Pharisees to whom he was speaking, who thought they were righteous. The tax collector is someone that the Pharisees would abhor, and Jesus using this reference would make them very angry, especially if Jesus was saying that the tax collector was justified.

Jesus says that the reason the tax collector was justified and forgiven is because of his humility. The Tax Collector was self-convicted and asked for mercy rather than boasting about what right he had done. The Pharisee was just thankful that he wasn't "as bad" as the other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, tax collectors. The Pharisees that Jesus was speaking with would immediately relate to their feeling of superiority. 

Jesus says that the humble will be exalted, and the exalted will be humbled. I pray that this Lenten season, we all find humility in our hearts and not think that we are any better than anyone else. 

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income."  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"  I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'

Today is Ash Wednesday, and the word that comes to the forefront is contempt.  I’m not sure why the word stood out, it just did.  Jesus is talking to the folks who disapprove of, and are judgmental of the way others live their lives.  They are self righteous and think they are superior.  Jesus is speaking this parable to “some” who considered themselves righteous and regard others with contempt.

The Pharisees are a political party of religious lay persons who specialized in Torah (Jewish Law).  They were in conflict with Jesus because Jesus often used them as examples of how not to act.  The Pharisees were worried about keeping the letter of the law, and thought that keeping the law alone sanctified their daily life and would bring about the redemption of Israel.  This was in contrast to what Jesus was trying to teach people about the intent of the law, to create a framework for the right relationship between God and God’s people.  Therefore, Jesus is an obstacle for the Pharisaic influence in society and they want Jesus out of the way.

Tax collectors were the Jews who collected taxes from the people on behalf of the Roman government.  They were considered scoundrels because they took money from their own people for a foreign power.  They were often corrupt, and took money to pad their own pockets.

Jesus’ parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee creates a sharp comparison and contrast for the hearer to ponder.  The Pharisee is set up as the one who considers himself righteous and the Tax Collector as the humble repentant sinner.

In the parable, the Pharisee is not the least bit introspective in his prayer.  He does not acknowledge his own sin, but is self righteously thankful that he is “not like other people.”  In contrast, the Tax Collector is humble and asking God for mercy, knowing that he is a sinner.

At the beginning of this season of Lent, the call in this passage is humility and self-awareness.  If we are humble in our prayers and honestly bear before God our shortcomings and ask for mercy, God hears us and forgives us.  Only then are we able to grow and learn and live in right relationship with God.