The Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector
THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR
LUKE 18:9-14
The starting place with God is always a humble, penitent heart.
The last degeneracy of prayer is self-congratulation. The Pharisee’s God was too small. Like those of Psalm 50:21, he had made himself a God in his own image.
The picture is vividly drawn and is again from life. The Pharisee “takes his stand,” the text runs literally. He had his place, doubtless a place most carefully chosen, where his words could be heard by all, for this man was guilty of that vast irreverence, not unknown in the prayer meeting—self-advertisement in the holy place.
He “prayed thus with himself.” His prayer was for himself and about himself. It did not reach the ear of God. He prayed aloud so that all could hear. This was common practice in the ancient world. Horace, the Roman poet, pictures just such a hypocrite making a public petition in the temple of Apollo, and adding to the impeccable prayers which others can hear the whispered private petition that heaven’s blessing fall upon his trickery and deceit.
Pride is everywhere evil. In the holy place it approaches blasphemy. The pompous creature was not as other men. With a curled lip of contempt, he even draws God’s attention to the poor publican. The wondering crowd were expected to look from the richly robed figure gazing up to God to the bent and downcast form of the broken man who sought forgiveness.
He came with the first requisite of forgiveness, “a broken and a contrite heart,” which God does not despise (Psalm 51:17), as he certainly despises the arrogance and sham of self-satisfied hypocrites. (See Job 40:1–42:6; Isaiah 2:22.) The publican heard what the Pharisee said about him. He did not utter a word of reproach. He cried with bowed head: “God be merciful to me the sinner.” Why the Authorized (KJV) Version says “a sinner” is without explanation. The definite article is plain enough in the Greek. “Yes, Lord,” he said, “I am the sinner of whom he speaks. Thy mercy, Lord.” If we desire justification it is found thus and in no other way (1 John 1:9).
Notes 18:12: “twice in the week”: Mondays and Thursdays, a practice imposed by tradition, and a work of supererogation; the Law ordained one fast day only (Leviticus 16:29); “all that I get”—cf. Deuteronomy 14:22-23 with Luke 11:42. 18:13: “be merciful”—Greek “be propitiated.”