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Luke 18:9-14
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 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.”
Devotional Thought:
Two men walk into a temple…sounds like the start of a bad joke. I wonder what it would have sounded like to those to whom Jesus was telling this parable. Luke tells us they were “confident in their own righteousness.” This self-confidence gave themselves an elevated position from which to look down on others. There is something about confidence that boosts our ego. Gives us an edge over others. But if we are not careful, that confidence can easily turn into arrogance – which is blindingly obvious to others, but to which we ourselves are quite blind.
The tax collector on the other hand, probably had plenty of assurance from other that he was a no-good sinner who should rot in hell. Now, even today, tax collectors are not anyone’s favourite people, but in Jesus’ day they were doubly despised as collaborators with the Roman occupation forces. Who knows what desperation made this man stoop so low to take on one of the most hated professions possible. And yet, here he is, going to the temple. Does this scream arrogance that he would dare to enter such a holy place? Or does it reflect the difficult circumstances that he finds himself in?
Two men, representing polar opposites of the human condition. The one over-confident in his own abilities, the other grovelling in self-loathing. Both looking down. Only one justified before God.
It would appear that the outward appearance of these two men was quite deceptive. But Jesus pointed to something deeper than human success or compromise. Judging by the posture of these two men in the temple, Jesus points to the virtue of humility as a pathway to discovering the grace of God. While both men had access to this generosity, the arrogance of the one led him to rely on his own pitiful resources, whereas the other confronted his failures. Giving up on himself was the beginning of finding himself embraced by God.
Prayer:
Lord, give me the humility to see myself as I am. I lay down my trophies and achievements to receive your mercy and grace. May I not get caught up in competition with others for your love but recognise the abundance of your love for all. And being justified through your grace, empower me to extend grace to the one next to me. Amen
Rev. Richard Giesken
Associate lecturer (Biblical Studies and Missiology)