Lesson Two: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

LESSON TWO

THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR

Chapter 2 of The Discipline of Grace

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men —robbers, evildoers, adulterers —or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

LUKE 18:11-12

CENTRAL IDEA

We have points in common with both the Pharisee and the tax collector, the Prodigal Son and the older brother.

DEVELOPING THE DISCIPLINE OF GRACE

William Carey, who went to India in 1793, is often called the father of modern missions. His vast labors for Christ included translation of all or parts of the Bible into more than forty languages and dialects. Carey’s well-known missionary slogan was: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” Yet the same man penned these words:

I am this day seventy years old, a monument of Divine mercy and goodness, though on a review of my life I find much, very much, for which I ought to be humbled in the dust; my direct and positive sins are innumerable, my negligence in the Lord’s work has been great, I have not promoted his cause, nor sought his glory and honour as I ought, notwithstanding all this, I am spared till now, and am still retained in his Work, and I trust I am received into the divine favour through him.[91]

a. How could a man of such remarkable faith in God lament his own sinfulness and shortcomings toward the end of his life? (Why would Carey not rather reflect with gratitude and praise on what God had done through him?)

b. Should Carey’s attitude be an example for us to follow, or should we write it off as an unfortunate bit of introspection that comes with old age? (Was Carey’s attitude due to an unhealthy, low self-esteem? Or did it reflect a healthy realism characteristic of a godly, mature Christian?)
c. Do you find Carey’s attitude difficult to maintain in your own life? Is it motivating? Why?

If ever there was a person who excelled in the disciplines of the Christian life, in obedience, and in sacrificial service, surely it was the apostle Paul. Yet he viewed himself in a manner similar to William Carey. Paul kept “downgrading” his self-concept in view of the seriousness of sin. As Paul grew over the years, to what did he compare himself? (How did he “rank” in each case?)

About AD 55, 1 Corinthians 15:9
About AD 57, Romans 7:18
About AD 60, Ephesians 3:8
About AD 63, 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Now consider the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee was orthodox in his beliefs and very committed in his religious practices. He fasted twice a week (spiritual disciplines); he was not a robber, evildoer, or adulterer (obedience); and he gave a tenth of all his income (service). To use our good-day–bad-day terminology, he was living in a continuous good-day scenario, or so he thought.

a. What, then, was the one fatal flaw in the Pharisee’s thinking?
b. By contrast to the Pharisee, how did the tax collector see himself and his sin? (And in relation to whom?)
c. Why did Jesus declare the tax collector righteous before God?
d. How does this parable speak to you?

Jesus also gave us the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). The emphasis of that story is on the compassion and grace of the son’s father. Jesus could have stopped there, but He proceeded to tell us about the jealousy and resentment of the older brother. How is that older brother like the Pharisee of Luke 18:9-14?

While love is the primary character trait befitting Christians, it is also the most difficult to practice with more than mere lip service. To put “shoe leather” to the concept of love, try viewing the great love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, in terms of action steps. As you read over these action statements on the following pages from verses 4 and 5, ask yourself how you are doing in your day-to-day practice of love. On a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (always), how often do you tend to take these measurable actions? Circle the appropriate response.

I am patient with you because I love you and want to forgive you.
1 2 3 4 5
I am kind to you because I love you and want to help you.
1 2 3 4 5
I do not envy your possessions or your gifts because I love you and want you to have the best.
1 2 3 4 5
I do not boast about my attainments because I love you and want to hear about yours.
1 2 3 4 5
I am not proud because I love you and want to esteem you above myself.
1 2 3 4 5
I am not rude because I love you and care about your feelings.
1 2 3 4 5
I am not self-seeking because I love you and want to meet your needs.
1 2 3 4 5
I am not easily angered by you because I love you and want to overlook your offenses.
1 2 3 4 5
I do not keep a record of your wrongs because I love you, and “love covers a multitude of sins.”
1 2 3 4 5

(Is there any room for self-righteousness in the light of this practical standard of love?)

Bridges found twenty-seven positive character traits taught in the New Testament (see Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:1-2, 25-32; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Timothy 6:6-11; James 3:17). The traits are:

___ Compassion
___ Considerateness
___ Contentment
___ Faith
___ Faithfulness
___ Forbearance
___ Forgiving spirit
___ Generosity
___ Gentleness
___ Godliness
___ Goodness
___ Honesty
___ Humility
___ Impartiality
___ Joy
___ Kindness
___ Love
___ Mercy
___ Patience
___ Peace
___ Perseverance
___ Purity
___ Righteousness
___ Self-control
___ Sincerity
___ Submissiveness
___ Thankfulness

a. Get a friend who knows you well to help you mark those traits in which you’ve grown in the past year.
b. Mark two traits you believe God would like you to focus on for growth. (Ask God to show you which two traits you should mark.)
c. In your group, discuss how helpful this exercise was for you. What did you learn about yourself?

To the extent that we miss the mark in these positive Christian character traits, we are sinners in need of God’s grace.

a. Bridges contends that Christians should view themselves as both saints and sinners. Why is that?

b. How do you tend to view yourself usually —as a saint, sinner, or both?
c. How are you viewing yourself after completing this study session?
d. What will you do with what you have learned in this session?

Let the group leader close in prayer, using the prayer of the tax collector in Luke 18 as a basis.

WHAT’S THE POINT OF ALL THIS?

The point is to help us identify with both the Pharisee and the tax collector, both the Prodigal Son and the older brother. Whereas no one wants to identify with the Pharisee or the older brother, we are more willing to identify with the tax collector and the Prodigal Son. But are we really willing to say, “God be merciful to me the sinner” or “I am no longer worthy to be called your son”? Are we willing to admit that even our righteous acts are no more than “filthy rags” in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6)? If you can truthfully say yes to these questions, then you got the point of this chapter.

Having reckoned with the seriousness of our sin, we are in a better position to apply the gospel of grace to our lives every day. In the next lesson, we will be exploring more of what it means to “preach the gospel to yourself.” Meditate on Romans 8:1 and read chapter 3 of The Discipline of Grace in preparation for the next session.

[91] William Carey, quoted in Timothy George, Faithful Witness: The Life and Mission of William Carey (Birmingham, AL: New Hope, 1991), 155.

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