“ 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 lift up his eyes 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.” Luke 18:9-14
Jesus loved to tell stories. It’s an ancient thing… a critical ingredient for the life we share from one generation to the next! Story telling was a key way to keep values and goals and truth in front of the people… like when Aesop told the story of the boy who ‘cried wolf’ too many times or when Chicken Little told us ‘the sky is falling’ or when Humpty Dumpty’s indecisiveness by sitting on a wall could cause our own demise! Jesus loved to tell stories. Especially those stories which make a point. We call them parables… earthly stories with a heavenly meaning.
It seems Jesus was once again teaching a crowd of people… a crowd which included some folks were a bit self-righteous and looked upon others with contempt. Wow. That doesn’t happen anymore, does it? Some people thinking themselves better than others… for all kinds of reasons? And Jesus certainly gained the listeners’ attention by placing polar opposites…a Pharisee and a tax collector into the story… by doing something just about everyone did in those days… go up to the Temple mount to pray. And when we read the parable carefully… Jesus notes… the content of our prayers is just as important as the way we pray them.
The people listening were familiar with the Temple. It was a big walled square where lots of people could stand and pray to God. There was also another box inside with an altar where only the high priest could enter… the Holy of Holies it was called… and it was right at that door the Pharisee placed himself to list his pride for all to hear… how good he was… better than anyone else who might stand there… like fasting twice a week when the general rule was to fast twice a year… or by giving ten percent of all his income… so self-righteous he was the kind of guy who would give ten cents to God after finding a dollar bill on the sidewalk! And worse… Jesus pointed out that the Pharisee pointed to the tax collector… who was as far from the altar as he could get … that he wasn’t like him. And everyone knew why.
Tax collectors were despised. They were Hebrew by birth yet worked for the Roman IRS taking more taxes than they should and pocketing the overage for themselves. No. One. Liked. Them.
But this tax collector had a conscience. In ancient days people prayed with their hands held high and their eyes wide open… so God could see deep into their hearts. But… not this one. He kept his head down… in shame… standing far from the holiness… pounding on his chest seeking mercy in reminding God he was a terrible person.
That’s when Jesus gave the pronouncement… with no question asked… this man… referring to the one with humility… was right with God… justified… like the margin choice on our laptops… crooked edges made straight! Faith matters.
And Jesus’ point? Be careful not to walk around highlighting the halo over your head… it just may slip down around your neck to hang yourself!
