The Pharisee and the Publican

This parable is spoken to those who are persuaded within themselves that they are faultless, guiltless, innocent, and without blame, and who show contempt toward others, looking down on them, and viewing them to be of no account. Simply put, because they perceive themselves to be good, they boast about themselves while putting others down.

The Bible teaches that there is none righteous, no, not one, and that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Hence, the need for a Savior, one who alone can deliver men from such a condition. Yet, many still today exalt themselves in their own self-perceived goodness.

One of these men was a Pharisee, a religious man, a man revered and honored by many, a teacher of the law, and the other was a publican, a tax collector, one who made his living by extorting money his own people, one known for his wicked deeds, to put it simply, a sinner. Both of these men went into the temple for the same purpose, to pray. Yet, as we’ll see, they each had different perceptions of themselves and different motives for praying.

None Righteous no not One

The Pharisee prayed with, or towards, himself, that is, to his own advantage, and wrapped his self-promotion in what appeared to be a prayer. And not only did he exalt himself, but he did so by pointing out he was not like other men, and demeaned the publican. He compared his righteousness to the publican’s sinfulness. He boasted of his own goodness at the expense of another human being, one whom he considered to be of no value.

Interestingly, the Lord does not place a value on people like we sometimes do. He has judged all people to be under sin, none righteous, and views all to be sinners until we receive the free gift of His righteousness, bestowed upon us through our faith in Jesus Christ. That is God’s view or perspective.

By Grace are You Saved

Look at all I do, Lord. I fast, I give tithes, I do all these wonderful things that make me righteous. But, the Bible says that men are saved, or made righteous, by God’s grace, His graciousness, through their faith in Christ and not by their good works. Yet many still desire to adhere to the belief that righteousness is based on the good things we do. The Bible says otherwise. It is not by our works, lest any man should boast like this Pharisee was doing.

Does this self-righteous speech of the Pharisee sound familiar? I’m a good person, I try to do right, I fast a meal occasionally, I pay my bills on time, I even go to church on Easter and Christmas, and I do what’s considered socially acceptable. I’m a good person. How could God reject somebody like me?

He gives Grace to the Humble

All these things sound good, and they are things we ought to do, but there is an error in thinking they make us righteous in the sight of God. In fact, to boast of these things, to point them out on our own behalf, to promote ourselves, makes us prideful, and the Bible says the Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. So, this attitude truly works against us.

Blessed are Those who Mourn

The publican had a heart filled with the awareness of his shortcomings, the recognition of his sinfulness, such an awareness, in fact, that he could not even look toward heaven, but kept his eyes downward, striking himself repeatedly on the chest, signifying self-punishment. And he said, God, please be merciful to me. I don’t deserve it, because I’m a sinner. But Lord, please show me mercy.

Jesus said that blessed, or supremely happy, are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mourn what? Mourn their sinful condition, those who admit to themselves and God that they regret their condition and need mercy and forgiveness. It says they shall be comforted, that is, consoled and strengthened.

The Pharisee, in his own self-exaltation, had the impression that the Lord was looking down on and condemning the publican, as he himself was, but in reality, the Lord was looking at him with great favor and kindness.

Judge Not

Do we sometimes do the same thing? Do we make the mistake of talking about people or viewing them as though God Himself looks down on them as we do?

God sent His Son to save the very people that we call sinners, as the Pharisee called the publican. It’s not a good practice to the Lord about how bad we consider another person to be. We are telling on ourselves, and letting the Lord know exactly how different our perspective is than His own.

He who is Forgiven Much Loves Much

The Lord views sinners, the people we often look down on, as candidates to become sons and daughters of God through the salvation He has offered us through Christ. And the Bible tells us that the one who is forgiven much, the one who has been forgiven of the most sin, is often the one who loves the Lord with the most love. The worst sinners can become the greatest and most faithful saints.

He who Humbles Himself Shall be Exalted

The publican, the one who confessed his sinfulness, prayed a genuine prayer that the Lord heard, and he went home forgiven and justified, made right, or righteous, before the Lord.

He was justified rather than the Pharisee, because, according to Jesus, every person who exalts or promotes himself to a place of honor, shall be brought low, or abased, and the one who humbly brings himself low before the Lord, who humbles himself, recognizing and acknowledging his true condition, shall be lifted up.

This is a great principle of the kingdom of God. The way up is down. The one who exalts himself shall be brought low, but the one who humbles himself and maintains that humility before the Lord shall be exalted by the Lord, for He gives grace to the humble.